Anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibodies

ABSTRACT

In some aspects, the present disclosure provides antibodies with high target affinities, as well as compositions comprising the same, and methods of using the same. In some embodiments, antibodies against an IL6 receptor are provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a divisional of U.S. Patent Application No. filed on Ser. No. 16/200,512, filed Nov. 26, 2018, which is a continuation of PCT patent application number PCT/CN2017/086280, filed on May 27, 2017, which claims the benefit of PCT patent application number PCT/CN2016/083653, filed on May 27, 2016, the content of each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in ASCII format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Nov. 4, 2021, is named 46198-701_302_SL.txt and is 334,237 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Previously known as hepatocyte stimulating factor, B-cell stimulatory factor 2, cytotoxic T-cell differentiation factor, B-cell differentiation factor, hybridoma/plasmacytoma growth factor, monocyte granulocyte inducer type 2 and thrombopoietin, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by various types of cells, such as T cells, B cells, monocytes, fibroblasts, osteoblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, mesangial cells and some tumor cells. IL-6 comprises four α-helical domains with a motif of four cysteine residues which are necessary for its tertiary structure. Human IL-6 is a 26-kDa glycoprotein whose gene is found on chromosome 7.

IL-6 binds to a membrane bound or soluble IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and this complex associates with two molecules of the signal transducing protein gp130, thereby initiating cellular events including activation of the JAK-STAT3 pathway and ras-mediated MAP kinase signaling IL-6 elicits various effects such as proliferation and differentiation of B cells and monocytes, T cell activation, hematopoiesis, osteoclast activation, keratinocyte growth, neuronal growth, hepatocyte activation and acute phase protein induction from hepatocytes.

IL-6 plays an important role in immune regulation, hematopoiesis, inflammation and oncogenesis. IL-6 is involved in and has been a drug discovery target for treating diseases or disorders such as infection, endotoxic shock associated with infection, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), asthma, pelvic inflammatory disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Castleman's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, dermatomyositis, uveitis, Peyronie's Disease, coeliac disease, gallbladder disease, Pilonidal disease, peritonitis, psoriasis, vasculitis, surgical adhesions, stroke, Type I Diabetes, lyme arthritis, meningoencephalitis, immune mediated inflammatory disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system, autoimmune disorders, pancreatitis, trauma from surgery, graft-versus-host disease, transplant rejection, heart disease, bone resorption, burns patients, myocardial infarction, Paget's disease, osteoporosis, sepsis, liver/lung fibrosis, periodontitis, hypochlorhydia, solid tumors (renal cell carcinoma), prostatic and bladder cancers, pancreatic cancer, neurological cancers, and B-cell malignancies (e.g., Casteleman's disease, certain lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma). Indirect evidence also suggests an association between IL-6 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.

Tocilizumab (Heavy chain as shown in SEQ ID NO. 1, light chain as shown in SEQ ID NO. 2), a humanized monoclonal antibody against the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), is an IgG1 antibody obtained by humanizing mouse antibody PM1. Tocilizumab is useful as a therapeutic agent for IL-6-associated diseases, and has been marketed under the trade names of Actemra and RoActemra. As an antibody, target detection sensitivity (as in a detection assay), and therapeutic efficacy and dosing are related to affinity of the antibody for its target. Higher-affinity antibodies may enhance detection sensitivity, lower dose requirements, make production more efficient, and decrease the risk of side effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, there exists a considerable need for anti-IL-6 or anti-IL6R antibodies with improved target binding affinities, compositions and kits comprising the same, and methods of use thereof. The present disclosure addresses the above needs, and provides additional advantages as well.

The present disclosure provides antibodies capable of binding to IL-6R, uses thereof, and methods of making the same. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody, wherein the antibody: (a) comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89, wherein the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identify to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90; (b) exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 1 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91; and (c) does not contain (a) SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4, and (b) SEQ ID NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO. 2.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody, wherein the antibody (a) comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89, wherein the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identify to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90; (b) exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is greater than the affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2; and (c) does not contain SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein: (a) the antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is greater than an affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4; and (b) the antibody inhibits proliferation of DS-1 cells by at least 40% after 72 hours at a concentration of 0.032 μg/mL or less in an MTS cell-proliferation assay.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein: (a) the heavy chain comprises one or more mutations at positions 51, 57, 58, 99, 103, 106, and 116 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1; and/or (b) the light chain comprises one or more mutations at positions 89 and 93 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2; and (c) the antibody comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to an antibody comprising a heavy chain of SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, or SEQ ID NO. 89 and a light chain of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, or SEQ ID NO. 90.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein: (a) the heavy chain comprises one or more mutations with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1, wherein residue 57 is mutated to methionine (M); (b) the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO. 4 or SEQ ID NO. 2, or both; and (c) the antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6R of 1 nM or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody as described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a kit comprising an antibody as described herein in a container. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of treating a disease or condition comprising administering an antibody as described herein or a composition comprising an antibody as described herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides use of an antibody as described herein for the manufacture of a medicament for treating a condition of a subject. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an isolated polynucleotide encoding an antibody as described herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a vector comprising an isolated polynucleotide as described herein. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a cell comprising a vector as described herein.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an IL-6R antibody inhibiting proliferation of DS-1 cells in the presence of IL-6.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are graphs illustrating results of DS-1 cell proliferation assay.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphs illustrating results of DS-1 cell proliferation assay showing the inhibition % of exemplary antibodies as described herein on DS-1 cell proliferation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The systems and methods of this disclosure as described herein may employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques and descriptions of molecular biology (including recombinant techniques), cell biology, biochemistry, microarray and sequencing technology, which are within the skill of those who practice in the art. Such conventional techniques include polymer array synthesis, hybridization and ligation of oligonucleotides, sequencing of oligonucleotides, and detection of hybridization using a label. Specific illustrations of suitable techniques can be had by reference to the examples herein. However, equivalent conventional procedures can, of course, also be used. Such conventional techniques and descriptions can be found in standard laboratory manuals such as Green, et al., Eds., Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series (Vols. I-IV) (1999); Weiner, et al., Eds., Genetic Variation: A Laboratory Manual (2007); Dieffenbach, Dveksler, Eds., PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual (2003); Bowtell and Sambrook, DNA Microarrays: A Molecular Cloning Manual (2003); Mount, Bioinformatics: Sequence and Genome Analysis (2004); Sambrook and Russell, Condensed Protocols from Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2006); and Sambrook and Green, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 4th Edition (2012) (all from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press); Stryer, L., Biochemistry (4th Ed.) W. H. Freeman, N.Y. (1995); Gait, “Oligonucleotide Synthesis: A Practical Approach” IRL Press, London (1984); Nelson and Cox, Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, 6th Ed., W. H. Freeman Pub., New York (2012); R. I. Freshney, Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications, 6^(th) Ed., Wiley-Blackwell (2010); and Berg et al., Biochemistry, 5^(th) Ed., W. H. Freeman Pub., New York (2002), all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. Before the present compositions, research tools and systems and methods are described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific systems and methods, compositions, targets and uses described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, which will be limited only by appended claims.

As used in the specification and claims, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a cell” includes a plurality of cells, including mixtures thereof.

The term “about” or “approximately” means within an acceptable error range for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which will depend in part on how the value is measured or determined, i.e., the limitations of the measurement system. For example, “about” can mean within 1 or more than 1 standard deviation, per the practice in the art. Alternatively, “about” can mean a range of up to 20%, up to 10%, up to 5%, or up to 1% of a given value. Alternatively, particularly with respect to biological systems or processes, the term can mean within an order of magnitude, preferably within 5-fold, and more preferably within 2-fold, of a value. Where particular values are described in the application and claims, unless otherwise stated the term “about” meaning within an acceptable error range for the particular value should be assumed.

The terms “polypeptide”, “oligopeptide”, “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to polymers of amino acids of any length. The polymer may be linear or branched, it may comprise modified amino acids, and it may be interrupted by non-amino acids. The terms also encompass an amino acid polymer that has been modified naturally or by intervention; for example, disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation, phosphorylation, or any other manipulation or modification, such as conjugation with a labeling component. Also included within the definition are, for example, polypeptides containing one or more analogs of an amino acid (including, for example, unnatural amino acids, etc.), as well as other modifications known in the art. It is understood that, because the polypeptides as described herein are based upon an antibody, the polypeptides can occur as single chains or associated chains.

The term “amino acid” refers to natural, unnatural, and synthetic amino acids, including but not limited to both the D or L optical isomers, and amino acid analogs and peptidomimetics. Standard single or three letter codes are used to designate amino acids.

The term “natural L-amino acid” means the L optical isomer forms of glycine (G), proline (P), alanine (A), valine (V), leucine (L), isoleucine (I), methionine (M), cysteine (C), phenylalanine (F), tyrosine (Y), tryptophan (W), histidine (H), lysine (K), arginine(R), glutamine (Q), asparagine (N), glutamic acid (E), aspartic acid (D), serine (S), and threonine (T).

The term “non-naturally occurring,” as applied to sequences and as used herein, means polypeptide or polynucleotide sequences that do not have a counterpart to, are not complementary to, or do not have a high degree of homology with a wild-type or naturally-occurring sequence found in a mammal, or comprise non-naturally occurring residues (e.g. nucleotide analogues). For example, a non-naturally occurring polypeptide or fragment may share no more than 99%, 98%, 95%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50% or even less amino acid sequence identity as compared to a natural sequence when suitably aligned.

The terms “hydrophilic” and “hydrophobic” refer to the degree of affinity that a substance has with water. A hydrophilic substance has a strong affinity for water, tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water, while a hydrophobic substance substantially lacks affinity for water, tending to repel and not absorb water and tending not to dissolve in or mix with or be wetted by water. Amino acids can be characterized based on their hydrophobicity. A number of scales have been developed. An example is a scale developed by Levitt, M, et al., J Mol Biol (1976) 104:59, which is listed in Hopp, T P, et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (1981) 78:3824. Examples of “hydrophilic amino acids” are arginine, lysine, threonine, alanine, asparagine, and glutamine. Of particular interest are the hydrophilic amino acids aspartate, glutamate, and serine, and glycine. Examples of “hydrophobic amino acids” are tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

A “fragment” when applied to a protein, is a truncated form of a native biologically active protein that may or may not retain at least a portion of the therapeutic and/or biological activity. A “variant” when applied to a protein is a protein with sequence homology to the native biologically active protein that retains at least a portion of the therapeutic and/or biological activity of the biologically active protein. For example, a variant protein may share at least 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% amino acid sequence identity compared with the reference biologically active protein. As used herein, the term “biologically active protein moiety” includes proteins modified deliberately, as for example, by site directed mutagenesis, synthesis of the encoding gene, insertions, or accidentally through mutations.

In the context of polypeptides, a “linear sequence” or a “sequence” is an order of amino acids in a polypeptide in an amino to carboxyl terminus direction in which residues that neighbor each other in the sequence are contiguous in the primary structure of the polypeptide. A “partial sequence” is a linear sequence of part of a polypeptide that is known to comprise additional residues in one or both directions.

An “antibody” is an immunoglobulin molecule capable of specific binding to a target, such as a carbohydrate, polynucleotide, lipid, polypeptide, etc., through at least one antigen recognition site, located in the variable region of the immunoglobulin molecule. As used herein, the term encompasses not only intact polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, but also fragments thereof (such as Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv), single chain (ScFv), mutants thereof, fusion proteins comprising an antibody portion (such as domain antibodies), and any other modified configuration of the immunoglobulin molecule that comprises an antigen recognition site. An antibody includes an antibody of any class, such as IgG, IgA, or IgM (or sub-class thereof), and the antibody need not be of any particular class. Depending on the antibody amino acid sequence of the constant domain of its heavy chains, immunoglobulins can be assigned to different classes. There are five major classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of these may be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2. The heavy-chain constant domains that correspond to the different classes of immunoglobulins are called alpha, delta, epsilon, gamma, and mu, respectively. The subunit structures and three-dimensional configurations of different classes of immunoglobulins are well known.

In some embodiments provided herein, the antibody is a monoclonal antibody. As used herein, “monoclonal antibody” refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies. In general, the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible naturally-occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directed against a single antigenic site. Furthermore, in contrast to polyclonal antibody preparations, which typically include different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody is directed against a single determinant on the antigen. The modifier “monoclonal” indicates the character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any particular method. For example, the monoclonal antibodies to be used in accordance with the present disclosure may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler and Milstein, 1975, Nature, 256:495, or may be made by recombinant DNA methods such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. The monoclonal antibodies may also be isolated from phage libraries generated using the techniques described in McCafferty et al., 1990, Nature, 348:552-554, for example.

In some embodiments provided herein, the antibody is a humanized antibody. As used herein, “humanized” antibodies refer to forms of non-human (e.g. murine) antibodies that are specific chimeric immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin chains, or fragments thereof (such as Fv, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2 or other antigen-binding subsequences of antibodies) that contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin. For the most part, humanized antibodies are human immunoglobulins (recipient antibody) in which residues from a complementarity determining region (CDR) of the recipient are replaced by residues from a CDR of a non-human species (donor antibody) such as mouse, rat, or rabbit having the desired specificity, affinity, and, biological activity. In some instances, Fv framework region (FR) residues of the human immunoglobulin are replaced by corresponding non-human residues. Furthermore, the humanized antibody may comprise residues that are found neither in the recipient antibody nor in the imported CDR or framework sequences, but are included to further refine and optimize antibody performance. In general, the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the CDR regions correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human immunoglobulin consensus sequence. The humanized antibody optimally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region or domain (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin. Antibodies may have Fc regions modified as described in WO 99/58572. Other forms of humanized antibodies have one or more CDRs (one, two, three, four, five, six) which are altered with respect to the original antibody, which are also termed one or more CDRs “derived from” one or more CDRs from the original antibody.

In some embodiments provided herein, the antibody is a human antibody. As used herein, “human antibody” means an antibody having an amino acid sequence corresponding to that of an antibody produced by a human and/or has been made using any of the techniques for making human antibodies known in the art or of the present invention. This definition of a human antibody includes antibodies comprising at least one human heavy chain polypeptide or at least one human light chain polypeptide. One such example is an antibody comprising murine light chain and human heavy chain polypeptides. Human antibodies can be produced using various techniques known in the art. In one embodiment, the human antibody is selected from a phage library, where that phage library expresses human antibodies (Vaughan et al., 1996, Nature Biotechnology, 14:309-314; Sheets et al., 1998, PNAS, (USA) 95:6157-6162; Hoogenboom and Winter, 1991, J. Mol. Biol., 227:381; Marks et al., 1991, J. Mol. Biol., 222:581). Human antibodies can also be made by introducing human immunoglobulin loci into transgenic animals, e.g., mice in which the endogenous immunoglobulin genes have been partially or completely inactivated. This approach is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,545,807; 5,545,806; 5,569,825; 5,625,126; 5,633,425; and 5,661,016. Alternatively, the human antibody may be prepared by immortalizing human B lymphocytes that produce an antibody directed against a target antigen (such B lymphocytes may be recovered from an individual or may have been immunized in vitro). See, e.g., Cole et al., Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, p. 77 (1985); Boerner et al., 1991, J. Immunol., 147 (1):86-95; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,373.

“Polynucleotide,” or “nucleic acid,” as used interchangeably herein, refer to polymers of nucleotides of any length, and include DNA and RNA. The nucleotides can be deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, modified nucleotides or bases, and/or their analogs, or any substrate that can be incorporated into a polymer by DNA or RNA polymerase. A polynucleotide may comprise modified nucleotides, such as methylated nucleotides and their analogs. If present, modification to the nucleotide structure may be imparted before or after assembly of the polymer. The sequence of nucleotides may be interrupted by non-nucleotide components. A polynucleotide may be further modified after polymerization, such as by conjugation with a labeling component. Other types of modifications include, for example, “caps”, substitution of one or more of the naturally occurring nucleotides with an analog, internucleotide modifications such as, for example, those with uncharged linkages (e.g., methyl phosphonates, phosphotriesters, phosphoamidates, carbamates, etc.) and with charged linkages (e.g., phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, etc.), those containing pendant moieties, such as, for example, proteins (e.g., nucleases, toxins, antibodies, signal peptides, ply-L-lysine, etc.), those with intercalators (e.g., acridine, psoralen, etc.), those containing chelators (e.g., metals, radioactive metals, boron, oxidative metals, etc.), those containing alkylators, those with modified linkages (e.g., alpha anomeric nucleic acids, etc.), as well as unmodified forms of the polynucleotide(s). Further, any of the hydroxyl groups ordinarily present in the sugars may be replaced, for example, by phosphonate groups, phosphate groups, protected by standard protecting groups, or activated to prepare additional linkages to additional nucleotides, or may be conjugated to solid supports. The 5′ and 3′ terminal OH can be phosphorylated or substituted with amines or organic capping group moieties of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Other hydroxyls may also be derivatized to standard protecting groups. Polynucleotides can also contain analogous forms of ribose or deoxyribose sugars that are generally known in the art, including, for example, 2′-O-methyl-, 2′-O-allyl, 2′-fluoro- or 2′-azido-ribose, carbocyclic sugar analogs, α-anomeric sugars, epimeric sugars such as arabinose, xyloses or lyxoses, pyranose sugars, furanose sugars, sedoheptuloses, acyclic analogs and abasic nucleoside analogs such as methyl riboside. One or more phosphodiester linkages may be replaced by alternative linking groups. These alternative linking groups include, but are not limited to, embodiments wherein phosphate is replaced by P(O)S(“thioate”), P(S)S (“dithioate”), (O)NR₂ (“amidate”), P(O)R, P(O)OR′, CO or CH₂ (“formacetal”), in which each R or R′ is independently H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl (1-20 C) optionally containing an ether (—O—) linkage, aryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl or araldyl. Not all linkages in a polynucleotide need be identical. The preceding description applies to all polynucleotides referred to herein, including RNA and DNA.

A “variable region” of an antibody refers to the variable region of the antibody light chain or the variable region of the antibody heavy chain, either alone or in combination. The variable regions of the heavy and light chain each consist of four framework regions (FR) connected by three complementarity determining regions (CDRs) also known as hypervariable regions. The CDRs in each chain are held together in close proximity by the FRs and, with the CDRs from the other chain, contribute to the formation of the antigen-binding site of antibodies. There are at least two techniques for determining CDRs: (1) an approach based on cross-species sequence variability (i.e., Kabat et al. Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, (5th ed., 1991, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Md.)); and (2) an approach based on crystallographic studies of antigen-antibody complexes (Al-lazikani et al (1997) J. Molec. Biol. 273:927-948)). As used herein, a CDR may refer to CDRs defined by either approach or by a combination of both approaches.

A “constant region” of an antibody refers to the constant region of the antibody light chain or the constant region of the antibody heavy chain, either alone or in combination.

An epitope that “preferentially binds” or “specifically binds” (used interchangeably herein) to an antibody or a polypeptide is a term well understood in the art, and methods to determine such specific or preferential binding are also well known in the art. A molecule is said to exhibit “specific binding” or “preferential binding” if it reacts or associates more frequently, more rapidly, with greater duration and/or with greater affinity with a particular cell or substance than it does with alternative cells or substances. An antibody “specifically binds” or “preferentially binds” to a target if it binds with greater affinity, avidity, more readily, and/or with greater duration than it binds to other substances. For example, an antibody that specifically or preferentially binds to an IL-6R epitope is an antibody that binds this epitope with greater affinity, avidity, more readily, and/or with greater duration than it binds to other IL-6R epitopes or non-IL6R epitopes. As a further example, an antibody (or other moiety) that specifically or preferentially binds to a first target may or may not specifically or preferentially bind to a second target. As such, “specific binding” or “preferential binding” does not necessarily require (although it can include) exclusive binding. Generally, but not necessarily, reference to binding means preferential binding.

A “host cell” includes an individual cell or cell culture that can be or has been a recipient for vector(s) comprising exogenous polynucleotides. Host cells include progeny of a single host cell, and the progeny may not necessarily be completely identical (in morphology or in genomic DNA complement) to the original parent cell due to natural, accidental, or deliberate mutation. A host cell includes cells transfected in vivo with a polynucleotide(s) of the present disclosure.

The term “Fc region” is used to define a C-terminal region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain. The “Fc region” may be a native sequence Fc region or a variant Fc region. Although the boundaries of the Fc region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain might vary, the human IgG heavy chain Fc region is usually defined to stretch from an amino acid residue at position Cys226, or from Pro230, to the carboxyl-terminus thereof. The numbering of the residues in the Fc region is that of the EU index as in Kabat. Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Imunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., 1991. The Fc region of an immunoglobulin generally comprises two constant domains, CH2 and CH3.

As used herein, “Fc receptor” and “FcR” describe a receptor that binds to the Fc region of an antibody. The preferred FcR is a native sequence human FcR. Moreover, a preferred FcR is one which binds an IgG antibody (a gamma receptor) and includes receptors of the FcγRI, FcγRII, and FcγRIII subclasses, including allelic variants and alternatively spliced forms of these receptors. FcγRII receptors include FcγRIIA (an “activating receptor”) and FcγRIIB (an “inhibiting receptor”), which have similar amino acid sequences that differ primarily in the cytoplasmic domains thereof. FcRs are reviewed in Ravetch and Kinet, 1991, Ann. Rev. Immunol., 9:457-92; Capel et al., 1994, Immunomethods, 4:25-34; and de Haas et al., 1995, J. Lab. Clin. Med., 126:330-41. “FcR” also includes the neonatal receptor, FcRn, which is responsible for the transfer of maternal IgGs to the fetus (Guyer et al., 1976, J. Immunol., 117:587; and Kim et al., 1994, J. Immunol., 24:249).

“Complement dependent cytotoxicity” and “CDC” refer to the lysing of a target in the presence of complement. The complement activation pathway is initiated by the binding of the first component of the complement system (Clq) to a molecule (e.g. an antibody) complexed with a cognate antigen. To assess complement activation, a CDC assay, e.g. as described in Gazzano-Santoro et al., J. Immunol. Methods, 202:163 (1996), may be performed.

A “functional Fc region” possesses at least one effector function of a native sequence Fc region. Exemplary “effector functions” include Clq binding; complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC); Fc receptor binding; antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC); phagocytosis; down-regulation of cell surface receptors (e.g. B cell receptor; BCR), etc. Such effector functions generally require the Fc region to be combined with a binding domain (e.g. an antibody variable domain) and can be assessed using various assays known in the art for evaluating such antibody effector functions.

A “native sequence Fc region” comprises an amino acid sequence identical to the amino acid sequence of an Fc region found in nature. A “variant Fc region” comprises an amino acid sequence which differs from that of a native sequence Fc region by virtue of at least one amino acid modification, yet retains at least one effector function of the native sequence Fc region. Preferably, the variant Fc region has at least one amino acid substitution compared to a native sequence Fc region or to the Fc region of a parent polypeptide, e.g. from about one to about ten amino acid substitutions, and preferably from about one to about five amino acid substitutions in a native sequence Fc region or in the Fc region of the parent polypeptide. The variant Fc region herein will preferably possess at least about 80% sequence identity with a native sequence Fc region and/or with an Fc region of a parent polypeptide, and most preferably at least about 90% sequence identity therewith, more preferably at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99% sequence identity therewith.

As used herein “antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity” and “ADCC” refer to a cell-mediated reaction in which nonspecific cytotoxic cells that express Fc receptors (FcRs) (e.g. natural killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, and macrophages) recognize bound antibody on a target cell and subsequently cause lysis of the target cell. ADCC activity of a molecule of interest can be assessed using an in vitro ADCC assay, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,362 or 5,821,337. Useful effector cells for such assays include peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and NK cells. Alternatively, or additionally, ADCC activity of the molecule of interest may be assessed in vivo, e.g., in an animal model such as that disclosed in Clynes et al., 1998, PNAS (USA), 95:652-656.

Two polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences are said to be “identical” if the sequence of nucleotides or amino acids in the two sequences is the same when aligned for maximum correspondence as described below. Comparisons between two sequences are typically performed by comparing the sequences over a comparison window to identify and compare local regions of sequence similarity.

Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison may be conducted using the Megalign program in the Lasergene suite of bioinformatics software (DNASTAR, Inc., Madison, Wis.), using default parameters. This program embodies several alignment schemes described in the following references: Dayhoff, M. O. (1978) A model of evolutionary change in proteins—Matrices for detecting distant relationships. In Dayhoff, M. O. (ed.) Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure, National Biomedical Research Foundation, Washington D.C. Vol. 5, Suppl. 3, pp. 345-358; Hein J., 1990, Unified Approach to Alignment and Phylogenes pp. 626-645 Methods in Enzymology vol. 183, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, Calif.; Higgins, D. G. and Sharp, P. M., 1989, CABIOS 5:151-153; Myers, E. W. and Muller W., 1988, CABIOS 4:11-17; Robinson, E. D., 1971, Comb. Theor. 11:105; Santou, N., Nes, M., 1987, Mol. Biol. Evol. 4:406-425; Sneath, P. H. A. and Sokal, R. R., 1973, Numerical Taxonomy the Principles and Practice of Numerical Taxonomy, Freeman Press, San Francisco, Calif.; Wilbur, W. J. and Lipman, D. J., 1983, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:726-730. Alternative alignment programs are available, including but not limited to the BLAST algorithm, which may also be used to evaluate sequence identify, such as by using default parameters.

Preferably, the “percentage of sequence identity” is determined by comparing two optimally aligned sequences over a window of comparison (e.g. of at least 20 positions), wherein the portion of the polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence in the comparison window may comprise additions or deletions (i.e. gaps), such as gaps of 20 percent or less (e.g. 5 to 15 percent, or 10 to 12 percent), as compared to the reference sequences (which does not comprise additions or deletions) for optimal alignment of the two sequences. The percentage is typically calculated by determining the number of positions at which the identical nucleic acid bases or amino acid residue occurs in both sequences to yield the number of matched positions, dividing the number of matched positions by the total number of positions in the reference sequence (i.e. the window size) and multiplying the results by 100 to yield the percentage of sequence identity.

An “individual” or a “subject” is a mammal, more preferably a human. Mammals also include, but are not limited to, farm animals, sport animals, pets, primates, horses, dogs, cats, mice and rats.

As used herein, “vector” means a construct, which is capable of delivering, and preferably expressing, one or more gene(s) or sequence(s) of interest in a host cell. Examples of vectors include, but are not limited to, viral vectors, naked DNA or RNA expression vectors, plasmid, cosmid or phage vectors, DNA or RNA expression vectors associated with cationic condensing agents, DNA or RNA expression vectors encapsulated in liposomes, and certain eukaryotic cells, such as producer cells.

The term “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” refers to the amount of an agent that is sufficient to effect beneficial or desired results. The therapeutically effective amount may vary depending upon one or more of: the subject and disease condition being treated, the weight and age of the subject, the severity of the disease condition, the manner of administration and the like, which can readily be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. An effective amount of an active agent may be administered in a single dose or in multiple doses. A component may be described herein as having at least an effective amount, or at least an amount effective to produce a desired result, such as that associated with a particular goal or purpose, such as any described herein.

The term “effective amount” also applies to a dose that will provide an image for detection by an appropriate imaging method. The specific dose may vary depending on one or more of: the particular agent chosen, the dosing regimen to be followed, whether it is administered in combination with other compounds, timing of administration, the tissue to be imaged, and the physical delivery system in which it is carried.

As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” or “pharmaceutical acceptable excipient” includes any material which, when combined with an active ingredient, allows the ingredient to retain biological activity and is non-reactive with the subject's immune system. Examples include, but are not limited to, any of the standard pharmaceutical carriers such as a phosphate buffered saline solution, water, emulsions such as oil/water emulsion, and various types of wetting agents. Preferred diluents for aerosol or parenteral administration are phosphate buffered saline or normal (0.9%) saline. Compositions comprising such carriers are formulated by well-known conventional methods (see, for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 18th edition, A. Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1990; and Remington, The Science and Practice of Pharmacy 20th Ed. Mack Publishing, 2000).

Antibody

The present disclosure provides antibodies capable of binding to IL-6R, uses thereof, and methods of making the same. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein: (a) the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89; (b) the antibody comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to an antibody comprising a heavy chain of SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, or SEQ ID NO. 89 and a light chain of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, or SEQ ID NO. 90; (c) the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identify to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90; (d) the heavy chain comprises one or more mutations at positions 51, 57, 58, 99, 103, 106, and 116 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1; (e) the light chain comprises one or more mutations at positions 89 and 93 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2; (f) the heavy chain comprises one or more mutations with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1, wherein residue 57 is mutated to methionine (M); (g) the antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 1 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91; (h) the antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is greater than the affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2; (i) the antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is greater than the affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4; (j) the antibody inhibits proliferation of DS-1 cells by at least 40% after 72 hours at a concentration of 0.032 μg/mL or less in an MTS cell-proliferation assay; (k) the antibody inhibits proliferation of DS-1 cells by an IC₅₀ lower than the IC₅₀ of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2 as determined in an MTS cell-proliferation assay; (1) the antibody inhibits proliferation of DS-1 cells by an IC₅₀ lower than the IC₅₀ of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4 as determined in an MTS cell-proliferation assay; (m) the antibody has a pH dependence of the binding affinity for IL-6R higher than the pH dependence of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4, and wherein the pH dependence is defined as the ratio between the binding affinity for the IL-6R at pH7.4 and at pH6.0; (n) does not contain (1) SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4, and/or (2) SEQ ID NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO. 2; or (o) any combination thereof.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody, wherein the antibody: (a) comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89, wherein the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identify to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90; (b) exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 1 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91; and (c) does not contain (a) SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4, and (b) SEQ ID NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO. 2.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody, wherein the antibody: (a) comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89, wherein the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identify to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90; (b) exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is greater than the affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2; and (c) does not contain SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4.

In still yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein: (a) the antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is greater than an affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4; and (b) the antibody inhibits proliferation of DS-1 cells by at least 40% after 72 hours at a concentration of 0.032 μg/mL or less in an MTS cell-proliferation assay.

In still yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein: (a) the heavy chain comprises one or more mutations at positions 51, 57, 58, 99, 103, 106, and 116 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1; and/or (b) the light chain comprises one or more mutations at positions 89 and 93 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2; and (c) the antibody comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to an antibody comprising a heavy chain of SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, or SEQ ID NO. 89 and a light chain of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, or SEQ ID NO. 90.

In still yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides an antibody comprising a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein: (a) the heavy chain comprises one or more mutations with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1, wherein residue 57 is mutated to methionine (M); (b) the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO. 4 or SEQ ID NO. 2, or both; and (c) the antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6R of 1 nM or less, as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91.

SEQUENCE IDENTITY

The sequence identity with respect to the amino acid sequences identified herein, is defined as the percentage of amino acid residues in a query sequence that are identical with the amino acid residues of a second, reference polypeptide sequence or a portion thereof, after aligning the sequences and introducing gaps, if necessary, to achieve the maximum percent sequence identity, and not considering any conservative substitutions as part of the sequence identity. Alignment for purposes of determining percent amino acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways that are within the skill in the art, for instance, using publicly available computer software such as BLAST, BLAST-2, ALIGN or Megalign (DNASTAR) software. Those skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for measuring alignment, including any algorithms needed to achieve maximal alignment over the full length of the sequences being compared. Percent identity may be measured over the length of an entire defined polypeptide sequence, or may be measured over a shorter length, for example, over the length of a fragment taken from a larger, defined polypeptide sequence, for instance, a fragment of at least 15, at least 20, at least 30, at least 40, at least 50, at least 70 or at least 150 contiguous residues. Such lengths are exemplary only, and it is understood that any fragment length supported by the sequences shown herein, in the tables, figures or Sequence Listing, may be used to describe a length over which percentage identity may be measured. In some embodiments, percent identity is determined with respect to the full length of a noted reference sequence, such as a sequence provided herein. For example, sequence comparison between two amino acid sequences (or a shorter length thereof) of the present disclosure may be carried out by computer program Blastp (protein-protein BLAST) provided online by Nation Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The percentage amino acid sequence identity of a given amino acid sequence A to a given amino acid sequence B (which can alternatively be phrased as a given amino acid sequence A that has a certain % amino acid sequence identity to a given amino acid sequence B) is calculated by the formula as follows:

$\frac{X}{Y} \times 100\%$

where X is the number of amino acid residues scored as identical matches by the sequence alignment program BLAST in that program's alignment of A and B, and where Y is the total number of amino acid residues in A or B, whichever is shorter.

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a heavy chain that exhibits high degree of sequence identity to a reference selected from SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89, and/or a light chain that exhibits high degree of sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a heavy chain having an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a light chain having an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a heavy chain having an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89, and a light chain having an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90.

Embodied herein are any combinations of heavy chains and light chains exemplified in SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, and SEQ ID NO. 89, and SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, and SEQ ID NO. 90.

In some embodiments provided herein, the antibody comprises an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to an antibody comprising a heavy chain of SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23, SEQ ID NO. 24, SEQ ID NO. 25, SEQ ID NO. 26, SEQ ID NO. 27, SEQ ID NO. 28, SEQ ID NO. 29, SEQ ID NO. 30, SEQ ID NO. 31, SEQ ID NO. 32, SEQ ID NO. 33, SEQ ID NO. 34, SEQ ID NO. 35, SEQ ID NO. 36, SEQ ID NO. 37, SEQ ID NO. 38, SEQ ID NO. 39, SEQ ID NO. 40, SEQ ID NO. 41, SEQ ID NO. 42, SEQ ID NO. 43, SEQ ID NO. 44, SEQ ID NO. 45, SEQ ID NO. 46, SEQ ID NO. 47, SEQ ID NO. 48, SEQ ID NO. 49, SEQ ID NO. 50, SEQ ID NO. 51, SEQ ID NO. 52, SEQ ID NO. 53, SEQ ID NO. 54, SEQ ID NO. 55, SEQ ID NO. 56, SEQ ID NO. 57, SEQ ID NO. 58, SEQ ID NO. 59, SEQ ID NO. 60, SEQ ID NO. 61, SEQ ID NO. 62, SEQ ID NO. 63, SEQ ID NO. 64, SEQ ID NO. 65, SEQ ID NO. 66, SEQ ID NO. 67, SEQ ID NO. 68, SEQ ID NO. 69, SEQ ID NO. 70, SEQ ID NO. 71, SEQ ID NO. 72, SEQ ID NO. 73, SEQ ID NO. 74, SEQ ID NO. 75, SEQ ID NO. 76, SEQ ID NO. 77, SEQ ID NO. 78, or SEQ ID NO. 89 and a light chain of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 79, SEQ ID NO. 80, SEQ ID NO. 81, SEQ ID NO. 82, SEQ ID NO. 83, SEQ ID NO. 84, SEQ ID NO. 85, SEQ ID NO. 86, SEQ ID NO. 87, SEQ ID NO. 88, or SEQ ID NO. 90.

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a heavy chain comprising an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO. 26. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a light chain comprising an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a heavy chain comprising an amino acid sequence with greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO. 26 and a light chain comprising an amino acid sequence with greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4.

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a heavy chain comprising an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO. 28. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a light chain comprising an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises a heavy chain comprising an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO. 28 and a light chain comprising an amino acid sequence with about or greater than 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% and 100% sequence identity to a sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4.

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody does not contain SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody does not contain SEQ ID NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO. 2. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody does not contain (a) SEQ ID NO. 3 and SEQ ID NO. 4, and (b) SEQ ID NO. 1 and SEQ ID NO. 2.

MUTATION

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody as described herein may have one or more mutations with respect to a reference sequence. A mutation may be a deletion, an insertion or addition, or a replacement or substitution to an amino acid residue. A “deletion” refers to a change in an amino acid sequence due to the absence of one or more amino acid residues. An “insertion” or “addition” refers to changes in an amino acid sequence resulting in the addition of one or more amino acid residues as compared to a reference sequence. A “replacement” or “substitution” refers to the replacement of one or more amino acids by different amino acids. In the context of the present disclosure, the mutations of a subject antibody or a fraction thereof with respect to a reference sequence may be determined by comparison of the subject antibody or a fraction thereof to the reference sequence. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison may be conducted according to any of the known methods in the art.

A mutation may be identified by the mutation site. The mutation site is the position on a reference sequence where a deletion, an addition, or a substitution takes place. The amino acid residues on a reference sequence are numbered from the N-terminus to the C-terminus, and the mutation site is the numbering of the amino acid residue on which a deletion, an addition, or a substitution takes place. For example, position 26 on a reference sequence is the position where the 26^(th) amino acid residue locates starting from the N-terminus.

In the context of the present disclosure, one mutation at a specific position is intended to mean an deletion of one amino acid residue at the specific position, a substitution of an amino acid residue at the specific position with another amino acid residue, or an addition of one or more amino acid residues between the specific position and the position after the specific position (or after the specific position when the amino acid residue at the specific position is the last amino acid residue) on the reference sequence.

For the purpose of describing a mutation with respect to a reference sequence, the one-letter amino acid code may be used. In this respect, for example, when a subject antibody is said to comprise a mutation from G to I at position 26, which may be described as “G26I”, with respect to a reference sequence, it is intended to mean that the 26^(th) amino acid residue, which is a glycine (G) residue according to the reference sequence, is substituted by an alanine residue in a subject antibody or a fraction thereof. In the context of the present disclosure, for example, when a subject antibody is said to comprise a deletion of a glycine (G) residue at position 26, which may be described as “G26del” with respect to a reference sequence, it is intended to mean that the 26^(th) amino acid residue, which is a glycine (G) residue according to the reference sequence, does not exist in a subject antibody or a fraction thereof. In the context of the present disclosure, for example, when a subject antibody is said to comprise an addition of one or more amino acid residues after the glycine (G) residue at position 26, which may be described by “G26_ins” followed by a list of the added amino acid residues, it is intended to mean that the listed one or more amino acid residues are added between the 26^(th) amino acid residue, which is glycine (G), and the 27^(th) amino acid or (in a case where the 26^(th) amino acid residue is the last amino acid residue according to the reference sequence) after the 26th amino acid residue, which is glycine (G).

In some embodiments, a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one or more of the Fv framework regions (FRs) and/or one or more of the complementarity determining regions (CDRs). In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, three, or four of HFR1, HFR2, HFR3, and HFR4. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, or three of HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, three, or four of HFR1, HFR2, HFR3, and HFR4 and one or more mutations located in one, two, or three of HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, three, four, five, or six of HFR1, HFR2, HCDR2, HFR3, HCDR3, and HFR4. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, three, four, or five of HFR1, HCDR2, HFR3, HCDR3, and HFR4. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, three, or four of HFR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, and HFR4. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, three, or four of HFR1, HCDR2, HCDR3, and HFR4. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, or three of HFR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, or three of HCDR2, HCDR3, and HFR4. In still further embodiments, the heavy chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one or two of HCDR2 and HCDR3.

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or more mutations in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 25, 48, 51, 57, 58, 59, 69, 71, 99, 103, 106, 108, 116, 119, 123, 136, and 209 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 25, 51, 57, 58, 59, 69, 71, 99, 103, 106, 108, 116, 119, 123, 136, and 209 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 25, 51, 57, 58, 59, 99, 103, 106, 108, 116, 119, 123, 136, and 209 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 51, 57, 58, 59, 99, 103, 106, 108, 116, 119, 123, 136, and 209 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 51, 57, 58, 59, 99, 103, 106, 108, 116, 119, 123, 136, and 209 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 25, 51, 57, 58, 59, 99, 103, 106, 108, 116, and 119 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 25, 51, 57, 58, 59, 99, 103, 106, and 108 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 51, 57, 58, 59, 99, 103, 106, and 108 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 51, 57, 99, 103, 106, and 108 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3 or more mutations in the heavy chain at positions 51, 57, 99, and 103 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more mutations in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1 selected from Y51F, Y51W, Y51K, Y51R, or Y51H; I57M; T58I; P62A; T69S; L71V; S99C, S99T, or S99N; T103I, T103A, T103G, T103L, T103M, T103Y, or T103R; M106I; Y108F; T116I; S119A; K123E; S136N; and S209G. In some embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more mutations in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1 selected from Y51F; I57M; T58I; S99C; T103I; M106I; and Y108F. In some embodiments, a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4 or more mutations in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1 selected from Y51F; I57M; S99C; T1031; M106I; and Y108F.

In further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises a mutation I57M in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises a mutation T58I with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises a mutation S99C or S99T in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises a mutation T103M, T103I, T103G, T103L, T103Y, or T103R in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises a mutation M106I with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises a mutation Y108F in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1.

In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises Y51F, I57M, T58I, S99C, and T103I in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises Y51F, I57M, S99C, T103I, and T116I in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises Y51F, I57M, S99C, and T103I in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In yet further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises Y51F, I57M, S99T, and T103I in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1. In still yet further embodiments, a subject antibody comprises Y51F, I57M, S99N, and T103I in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations in the light chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one or more of the CDRs. In still further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations located in one, two, or three of LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3. In still further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations in LCDR1. In still further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprise one or more mutations in LCDR2. In still further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations in LCDR3. In still further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises no mutations with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2.

In some embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4 or more mutations at positions 27, 33, 50, 55, 56, 89, 92, 93, and 97 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3, 4 or more mutations at positions 50, 55, 56, 89, 92, 93, and 97 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises 1, 2, 3 or more mutations at positions 89, 92, 93, and 97 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations at positions 89, and 93 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises mutations at positions 89 and 93 with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2.

In some embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations selected from Q27H; L33P; Y505; H55Y, H55Q, or H55R; S56P; Q89G or Q89K; N92D; T93R; and T97N with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations selected from Y505; H55Y, H55Q, or H55R; S56P; Q89G or Q89K; N92D; T93R; and T97N with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations selected from Q89G or Q89K; N92D; T93R; and T97N with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. In still further embodiments, the light chain of a subject antibody comprises mutations (i) Q89G or Q89K, and (ii) N92D with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody comprises one or more mutations in the heavy chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 1 and one or more mutations in the light chain with respect to SEQ ID NO. 2. For this purpose, the mutation pattern in the heavy chain and the mutation pattern in the light chain could be combined in any desirable manner.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody can be any one of the following 1 #, 2 #, 3 #, 5 #, 6 #, 7 #, 8 #, 9 #, 11 #, 12 #, 13 #, 14 #, 15 #, 16 #, 17 #, 18 #, 20 #, 24 #, 26 #, 27 #, 28 #, 29 #, 30 #, 31 #, 35 #, 45 #, 49 #, 50 #, 51 #, 56 #, 57 #, 58 #, 60 #, 61 #, 62 #, 64 #, 66 #, 68 #, 201 #, 202 #, 203 #, 204 #, 205 #, 206 #, 208 #, 52 #, 54 #, 55 #, 59 #, 69 #, 209 #, 214 #, 215 #, 216 #, 217 #, 218 #, 219 #, 220 #, 221 #, 222 #, 223 #, 224 #, 225 #, 226 #, 227 #, 228 #, 229 #, 230 #, 231 #, 232 #, 233 #, 234 #, 235 #, 236 #, 237 #, 238 #, 239 #, 240 #, 241 #, 242 #, 243 #, 244 #, 245 #, 246 #, 247 #, 248 #, 249 #, 250 #, 251 #, 252 #, 253 #, 254 #, 255 #, 256 #, 257 #, 258 #, 259 #, 260 #, 261 #, 262 #, 263 #, 264 #, 265 #, and 266 #.

A subject antibody typically exhibits high binding affinity to IL-6 receptor. In some embodiments, the IL-6 receptor is human IL-6R. In some embodiments provided herein, the IL-6 receptor has an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 91.

Binding affinity of molecules to an IL-6R in solution or immobilized on an array can be detected using detection techniques known in the art. Examples of such techniques include immunological techniques such as competitive binding assays and sandwich assays; fluorescence detection using instruments such as confocal scanners, confocal microscopes, or CCD-based systems and techniques such as fluorescence, fluorescence polarization (FP), fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET), total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS); colorimetric/spectrometric techniques; surface plasmon resonance (SPR), by which changes in mass of materials adsorbed at surfaces are measured; techniques using radioisotopes, including conventional radioisotope binding and scintillation proximity assays (SPA); mass spectroscopy, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectroscopy (MALDI) and MALDI-time of flight (TOF) mass spectroscopy; ellipsometry, which is an optical method of measuring thickness of protein films; quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), a very sensitive method for measuring mass of materials adsorbing to surfaces; scanning probe microscopies, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning force microscopy (SFM) or scanning electron microscopy (SEM); and techniques such as electrochemical, impedance, acoustic, microwave, and IR/Raman detection. See, e.g., Mere L, et al., “Miniaturized FRET assays and microfluidics: key components for ultra-high-throughput screening,” Drug Discovery Today 4(8):363-369 (1999), and references cited therein; Lakowicz J R, Principles of Fluorescence Spectroscopy, 2nd Edition, Plenum Press (1999), or Jain K K: Integrative Omics, Pharmacoproteomics, and Human Body Fluids. In: Thongboonkerd V, ed., ed. Proteomics of Human Body Fluids: Principles, Methods and Applications. Volume 1: Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press, 2007, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments provided herein, binding affinity of a subject antibody to IL-6R is measured by surface plasmon resonance. Biacore® surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system (GE Healthcare, Chicago Ill.) may be used to measure binding affinity of a subject antibody. Exemplary SPR analysis systems include, but are not limited to, Biacore X100, Biacore T200, Biacore 3000 or Biacore 4000 instrument, and commercial sensor chips series. In a typical application of the Biacore systems, interaction kinetics are analyzed by monitoring the interaction as a function of time over a range of analyte concentrations, and then fitting the whole data set to a mathematical model describing the interaction. The association phase (during sample injection) contains information on both association and dissociation processes, while only dissociation occurs during the dissociation phase (after sample injection, when buffer flow removes dissociated analyte molecules). Those skilled in the art can choose or determine appropriate parameters and/or conditions for carrying out the binding affinity assay according to manufacturer's manual. In some embodiments, the binding affinity of a subject antibody is determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C.

The binding affinity of a subject antibody for IL-6 receptor may be characterized by k_(a), k_(d) or K_(D). The term “k_(a)”, as used herein, is intended to refer to the rate constant for association of an antibody to an antigen. The term “k_(d)”, as used herein, is intended to refer to the rate constant for dissociation of an antibody from the antibody/antigen complex. The term “K_(D)”, as used herein, is intended to refer to the equilibrium dissociation constant of an antibody-antigen interaction. For purposes of the present disclosure, K_(D) is defined as the ratio of the two kinetic rate constants k_(a)/k_(d). The smaller the equilibrium dissociation constant the tighter the subject antibody and the IL-6R bind to each other. In biological systems a good, specific binder typically has a dissociation constant in the range of 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁷ M.

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 1 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 0.1 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 0.05 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 0.01 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 0.005 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) of 0.001 nM or less as determined by surface plasmon resonance at 37° C., wherein the IL-6R has as an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 91.

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is greater than the affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, or 1000 times greater than the affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2.

In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is comparable to an affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is greater than an affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4. In some embodiments provided herein, a subject antibody exhibits a binding affinity (K_(D)) for IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) that is at least 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 100 times greater than an affinity of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4.

In some embodiments, the binding of a subject antibody has pH dependence. In the context of the present disclosure, pH dependence is defined as the ratio between the binding affinity for IL-6R at pH7.4 and at pH6.0. The pH dependence can be in the form of the fold of decrease of binding affinity from pH7.4 to pH6.0, or the fold of increase of binding affinity from pH7.4 to pH6.0. In some embodiments, the pH dependence is calculated as the ratio between the K_(D) value at pH 6.0 and the K_(D) value at pH 7.4, and the pH dependence, i.e., the ratio, indicates the fold of affinity decrease from the pH7.4 to pH6.0. If the pH dependence of a subject antibody described herein is over 1, it means that the antibody binds to IL-6R in such a pH-dependent manner that its binding to IL-6R at pH7.4 is higher than at pH6.0. If the pH dependence of a subject antibody described herein is lower than 1, it means that the antibody binds to IL-6R in such a pH-dependent manner that its binding to IL-6R at pH6.0 is higher than at pH7.4. The ability to maintain binding under neutral condition but significantly reduce under acidic conditions allows a subject antibody's dissociation from antigen in acidic condition, thus escaping the degradation by lysosomes and returning to the plasma where it can bind to an antigen again. A subject antibody having such pH dependent binding pattern has superior properties in terms of antigen neutralization and clearance relative to its counterpart that binds in a pH-independent mode.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody provided herein has a pH dependence of binding affinity for IL-6R higher than 1, such as at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or more. In some embodiments, a subject antibody has a pH dependence of binding affinity for IL-6R higher than that of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2. In some embodiments, a subject antibody has a pH dependence of binding affinity for IL-6R at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 times higher than that of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2. In some embodiments, a subject antibody has a pH dependence of binding affinity for IL-6R higher than that of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4. In some embodiments, a subject antibody has a pH dependence of binding affinity for IL-6R at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 times higher than that of an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody exhibits inhibitory activity against its IL-6 receptor. Inhibition of IL-6 receptor may be evaluated by measuring downstream biomarkers or cell proliferation. Inhibitory activity of a subject antibody against IL-6 receptor can be evaluated by DS-1 cell (ATCC Accession No. CRL 11102) proliferation. As shown in FIG. 1, DS-1 cell proliferation depends upon the binding of IL-6 to IL-6R, and the subsequent activation of cell signaling pathways. Binding of a subject antibody provided herein to IL-6R reduces the amounts of available IL-6R, and thus correlates to the inhibition of DS-1 cell proliferation.

Different types of assays are available to evaluate the proliferation of cells, comprising but not limited to DNA synthesis cell proliferation assays, metabolic cell proliferation assays, assays detecting proliferation markers and assays measuring ATP concentration. In a DNA synthesis cell proliferation assay, DNA of proliferating cells are labeled to be radioactive, and the label can be washed, adhered to filters and then measured using a scintillation counter. In a metabolic cell proliferation assay, tetrazolium salts such as MTT, XTT, MTS and WSTs may be used which are reduced in metabolically active cells, forming a formazan dye that subsequently changes the color of the media. In an assay detecting proliferation markers, a monoclonal antibody may be used to target common markers for cell proliferation and/or cell cycle regulation such as Ki-67, PCNA, topoisomerase IIB, and phospho-histone H3. For a measurement of ATP concentration, a bioluminescence-based detection of ATP may be used using the enzyme luciferase and its substrate luciferin.

An MTS cell-proliferation assay may be used to measure the proliferation of DS-1 cells. MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium), in the presence of phenazine methosulfate (PMS), produces a colored formazan product. The colored formazan product has an absorbance maximum at 490-500 nm in phosphate-buffered saline, measurement of which provides an evaluation of the proliferation of DS-1 cells, and thus an evaluation of the inhibitory activity of a subject antibody.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody inhibits proliferation of DS-1 cells at least as effectively as an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 2. In further embodiments, a subject antibody inhibits proliferation of DS-1 cells at least as effectively as an antibody comprising a heavy chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 3 and a light chain of an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO. 4. In some embodiments, a subject antibody as described herein inhibits proliferation of DS-1 cells by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or more at a concentration of 0.5 μg/ml, 0.25 μg/ml, 0.1 μg/ml, 0.05 μg/ml, 0.04 μg/ml, 0.035 μg/ml, 0.034 μg/ml, 0.033 μg/ml, 0.032 μg/ml, 0.031 μg/ml, 0.03 μg/ml, 0.02 μg/ml, 0.01 μg/ml or less.

An antibody embodied herein may be a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a human or humanized antibody. The term “human antibody,” as used herein, is intended to include antibodies having variable regions in which both the framework and CDR regions are derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences. Furthermore, if the antibody contains a constant region, the constant region also is derived from human germline immunoglobulin sequences. The human antibodies may include amino acid residues not encoded by human germline immunoglobulin sequences (e.g., mutations introduced by random or site-specific mutagenesis in vitro or by somatic mutation in vivo). However, the term “human antibody,” as used herein, is not intended to include antibodies in which CDR sequences derived from the germline of another mammalian species, such as a mouse, have been grafted onto human framework sequences. The term “humanized antibody” is intended to refer to antibodies in which CDR sequences derived from the germline of another mammalian species, such as a mouse, have been grafted onto human framework sequences. Additional framework region modifications may be made within the human framework sequences. The term “chimeric antibody” is intended to refer to antibodies in which the variable region sequences are derived from one species and the constant region sequences are derived from another species, such as an antibody in which the variable region sequences are derived from a mouse antibody and the constant region sequences are derived from a human antibody.

Furthermore, the subject antibody can be of any isotype. The choice of isotype typically will be guided by the desired effector functions, such as ADCC induction. Exemplary isotypes are IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4. Either of the human light chain constant regions, kappa or lambda, may be used. If desired, the class of an antibody may be switched by known methods. For example, an antibody that was originally IgM may be class switched to an IgG antibody. Further, class switching techniques may be used to convert one IgG subclass to another, for instance from IgG1 to IgG2. Thus, the effector function of the antibodies as described herein may be changed by isotype switching to, e.g., an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgD, IgA, IgE, or IgM antibody for various therapeutic uses. In one embodiment an antibody is an IgG1 antibody.

In some embodiments, the subject antibody provided herein is a monoclonal antibody. The subject antibody can be prepared by the hybridoma process or the recombinant DNA process. A typical example of the hybridoma process is the method of Kohler & Milstein (Nature, 256:495 (1975)). Antibody-producing cells used in the cell fusion step of this method are spleen cells, lymph node cells, peripheral blood leukocytes, etc. of an animal (e.g., mouse, rat, hamster, rabbit, monkey, goat) immunized with an antigen (human IL-6 receptor, its partial peptide, or cells expressing them). It is also possible to use antibody-producing cells obtained by allowing an antigen to act in a culture medium on the above cells or lymphocytes isolated in advance from an unimmunized animal. As myeloma cells, publicly known various cell strains can be used. The antibody-producing cells and myeloma cells may originate in different animal species, if they are mutually fusible; preferably, however, they are of the same animal species origin. Hybridomas, for example, are produced by cell fusion between spleen cells obtained from an antigen-immunized mouse and mouse myeloma cells, and subsequent screening can obtain hybridomas producing a monoclonal antibody against human IL-6R. The monoclonal antibody against human IL-6R can be produced by a culture of the hybridomas, or from an ascitic fluid of a mammal administered the hybridomas.

In some embodiments, the subject antibody is a humanized antibody. In making humanized antibodies, the choice of framework residues can be critical in retaining high binding affinity. In principle, a framework sequence from any HuAb can serve as the template for CDR grafting; however, it has been demonstrated that straight CDR replacement into such a framework can lead to significant loss of binding affinity to the antigen. Glaser et al. (1992) J. Immunol. 149:2606; Tempest et al. (1992) Biotechnology 9:266; and Shalaby et al. (1992) J. Exp. Med. 17:217. The more homologous a HuAb is to the original muAb, the less likely that the human framework will introduce distortions into the murine CDRs that could reduce affinity. Based on a sequence homology search against an antibody sequence database, the HuAb IC4 provides good framework homology to muM4TS.22, although other highly homologous HuAbs would be suitable as well, especially kappa L chains from human subgroup I or H chains from human subgroup III. Kabat et al. (1987). Various computer programs such as ENCAD (Levitt et al. (1983) J. Mol. Biol. 168:595) are available to predict the ideal sequence for the V region. The invention thus encompasses HuAbs with different V regions. It is within the skill of one in the art to determine suitable V region sequences and to optimize these sequences. Methods for obtaining antibodies with reduced immunogenicity are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,202 and EP 699,755.

It is important that antibodies be humanized with retention of high affinity for the antigen and other favorable biological properties. To achieve this goal, in one example, humanized antibodies are prepared by a process of analysis of the parental sequences and various conceptual humanized products using three dimensional models of the parental and humanized sequences. Three dimensional immunoglobulin models are familiar to those skilled in the art. Computer programs are available which illustrate and display probable three-dimensional conformational structures of selected candidate immunoglobulin sequences. Inspection of these displays permits analysis of the likely role of the residues in the functioning of the candidate immunoglobulin sequence, and of residues that influence the ability of the candidate immunoglobulin to bind its antigen. In this way, FR residues can be selected and combined from the consensus and import sequence so that the desired antibody characteristic, such as increased affinity for the target antigen(s), is achieved.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody or fragment thereof is fused to serum albumins. Fusion to serum albumins can improve the pharmacokinetics of a subject antibody as described herein. For example, the subject antibody or fragment thereof may be fused with a serum albumin. Serum albumin is a globular protein that is the most abundant blood protein in mammals. Serum albumin is produced in the liver and constitutes about half of the blood serum proteins. It is monomeric and soluble in the blood. In some embodiments, the subject antibody or fragment thereof may be fused to a serum albumin. In further embodiments, serum albumin is human serum albumin (HSA).

In some embodiments, a subject antibody described herein or fragment thereof may be fused to an albumin-binding peptide that displays binding activity to serum albumin to increase the half-life of the subject antibody or fragment thereof. Albumin-binding peptides that can be used herein include but are not limited to those described in e.g., Dennis et al., J. Biol. Chem. 277:35035-35043, 2002 and Miyakawa et al., J. Pharm. Sci. 102:3110-3118, 2013. In some embodiments, an albumin-binding peptide is fused genetically to a subject antibody or fragment thereof described herein. In further embodiments, an albumin-binding peptide is attached to a subject antibody described herein or fragment thereof through chemical means, e.g., chemical conjugation. In some embodiments, an albumin-binding peptide may be fused to the N- or C-terminus of a subject antibody or fragment thereof described herein. The C-terminus of the albumin-binding peptide may be directly fused to the N-terminus of the subject antibody through a peptide bond. Alternatively, the N-terminus of the albumin-binding peptide may be directly fused to the C-terminus of the subject antibody or fragment thereof through a peptide bond. In further embodiments, the carboxylic acid at the C-terminus of the albumin-binding peptide may be fused to an internal amino acid residue of the subject antibody or fragment thereof using conventional chemical conjugation techniques.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody described herein or fragment thereof is fused to a polymer, e.g., polyethylene glycol (PEG). An antibody or fragment thereof can be pegylated to, for example, increase the biological (e.g., serum) half life of the antibody or fragment thereof. To pegylate an antibody, the antibody, or fragment thereof, typically is reacted with polyethylene glycol (PEG), such as a reactive ester or aldehyde derivative of PEG, under conditions in which one or more PEG groups become attached to the antibody or antibody fragment. Preferably, the pegylation is carried out via an acylation reaction or an alkylation reaction with a reactive PEG molecule (or an analogous reactive water-soluble polymer). As used herein, the term “polyethylene glycol” is intended to encompass any of the forms of PEG that have been used to derivatize other proteins, such as mono (C1-C10) alkoxy- or aryloxy-polyethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol-maleimide. Methods for pegylating proteins such as those disclosed in for example, EP 0 154 316 by Nishimura et al. and EP 0 401 384 by Ishikawa et al may be used. In some embodiments, a polymer, e.g., PEG, may be covalently attached to a subject antibody, or fragment thereof, described herein, either at the N- or C-terminus or at an internal location, using conventional chemical methods, e.g., chemical conjugation. Without being bound by a theory, PEG moieties may contribute to, once attached to the antibody as described herein, the water solubility, high mobility in solution, lack of toxicity and low immunogenicity, extended circulating life, increased stability, ready clearance from the body, and altered distribution in the body.

Other half-life extension technologies that may be used to increase the serum half-life of the subject antibodies, or fragment thereof, include, but are not limited to, XTEN (Schellenberger et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 27:1186-1192, 2009) and Albu tag (Trussel et al., Bioconjug Chem. 20:2286-2292, 2009).

In some embodiments, a subject antibody or fragment thereof is conjugated to a chemically functional moiety. Typically, the moiety is a label capable of producing a detectable signal. These conjugated antibodies or fragments thereof are useful, for example, in detection systems such as quantitation of tumor burden, and imaging of metastatic foci and tumor imaging. Such labels are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes, enzymes, fluorescent compounds, chemiluminescent compounds, bioluminescent compounds substrate cofactors and inhibitors. See, for examples of patents describing the use of such labels, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,837; 3,850,752; 3,939,350; 3,996,345; 4,277,437; 4,275,149; and 4,366,241. The moieties can be covalently linked to antibody or fragment thereof as described herein, recombinantly linked, or conjugated to an antibody or fragment thereof through a secondary reagent, such as a second antibody, protein A, or a biotin-avidin complex.

Other functional moieties include signal peptides, agents that enhance or reduce immunologic reactivity, agents that facilitate coupling to a solid support, vaccine carriers, bioresponse modifiers, paramagnetic labels and drugs. A signal peptide is a short amino acid sequence that directs a newly synthesized protein through a cellular membrane, usually the endoplasmic reticulum in eukaryotic cells, and either the inner membrane or both inner and outer membranes of bacteria. Signal peptides are typically at the N-terminal portion of a polypeptide and are typically removed enzymatically between biosynthesis and secretion of the polypeptide from the cell. Such a peptide can be incorporated into the subject antibody or fragment thereof to allow secretion of the synthesized molecules.

Agents that enhance immunologic reactivity include, but are not limited to, bacterial superantigens. Agents that facilitate coupling to a solid support include, but are not limited to, biotin or avidin. Immunogen carriers include, but are not limited to, any physiologically acceptable buffers. Bioresponse modifiers include cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-2, interleukin-4, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor and gamma.-interferons.

Agents that reduce immunologic reactivity include, but are not limited to anti-inflammatory agents and immunosuppressants. Anti-inflammatory agents include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. NSAIDs include but are not limited to, salicylates, such as acetylsalicylic acid; diflunisal, salicylic acid, and salsalate; propionic acid derivatives, such as ibuprofen; naproxen; dexibuprofen, dexketoprofen, flurbiprofen, oxaprozin, fenoprofen, loxoprofen, and ketoprofen; acetic acid derivatives, such as indomethacin, diclofenac, tolmetin, aceclofenac, sulindac, nabumetone, etodolac, and ketorolac; enolic acid derivatives, such as piroxicam, lomoxicam, meloxicam, isoxicam, tenoxicam, phenylbutazone, and droxicam; anthranilic acid derivatives, such as mefenamic acid, flufenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, and tolfenamic acid; selective COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib, lumiracoxib, rofecoxib, etoricoxib, valdecoxib, firocoxib, and parecoxib; sulfonanilides, such as nimesulide; and others such as clonixin, and licofelone. Corticosteroids include but are not limited to, cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, and prednisolone. The immunosuppressants include but are not limited to hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, D-penicillamine, oral gold compound, injectable gold compound (intramuscular injection), minocycline, sodium gold thiomalate, auranofin, D-penicillamine, lobenzarit, bucillamine, actarit, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, mizoribine, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus.

Suitable drug moieties include antineoplastic agents. Non-limiting examples are radioisotopes, vinca alkaloids such as the vinblastine, vincristine and vindesine sulfates, adriamycin, bleomycin sulfate, carboplatin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, duanorubicin hydrochloride, doxorubicin hydrochloride, etoposide, fluorouracil, lomustine, mechlororethamine hydrochloride, melphalan, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, mitomycin, mitotane, pentostatin, pipobroman, procarbaze hydrochloride, streptozotocin, taxol, thioguanine, and uracil mustard.

Immunotoxins, including single chain molecules, can be produced by recombinant means. A variety of immunotoxins are available, and methods can be found, for example, in Monoclonal Antibody-toxin Conjugates: Aiming the Magic Bullet, Thorpe et al. (1982) Monoclonal Antibodies in Clinical Medicine, Academic Press, pp. 168-190; Vitatta (1987) Science 238:1098-1104; and Winter and Milstein (1991) Nature 349:293-299. Suitable toxins include, but are not limited to, ricin, radionuclides, pokeweed antiviral protein, Pseudomonas exotoxin A, diphtheria toxin, ricin A chain, fungal toxins such as restrictocin and phospholipase enzymes. See, generally, “Chimeric Toxins,” Olsnes and Pihl, Pharmac. Ther. 15:355-381 (1981); and “Monoclonal Antibodies for Cancer Detection and Therapy,” eds. Baldwin and Byers, pp. 159-179, 224-266, Academic Press (1985).

The chemically functional moieties can be made recombinantly for instance by creating a fusion gene encoding the antibody and the functional moiety. Alternatively, the antibody or fragment thereof can be chemically bonded to the moiety by any of a variety of well-established chemical procedures. For example, when the moiety is a protein, a variety of coupling agents may be used such as N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithiol) propionate (SPDP), succinimidyl-4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate, iminothiolane (IT), bifunctional derivatives of imidoesters (such as dimethyl adipimidate HCl), active esters (such as disuccinimidyl suberate), aldehydes (such as glutareldehyde), bis-azido compounds (such as bis (p-azidobenzoyl) hexanediamine), bis-diazonium derivatives (such as bis-(p-diazoniumbenzoyl)-ethylenediamine), diisocyanates (such as tolyene 2,6-diisocyanate), and bis-active fluorine compounds (such as 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene). The linker may be a “cleavable linker” facilitating release of the cytotoxic drug in the cell. For example, an acid-labile linker, peptidase-sensitive linker, dimethyl linker, or disulfide-containing linker (Chari et al. Cancer Research, 52: 127-131 (1992)) may be used. The moieties may be covalently linked, or conjugated, through a secondary reagent, such as a second antibody, protein A, or a biotin-avidin complex. For examples of paramagnetic moieties and the conjugation thereof to antibodies, see, e.g., Miltenyi et al. (1990) Cytometry 11:231-238.

In some embodiments, a subject antibody as provided herein is a bispecific antibody. Bispecific antibodies are antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two different epitopes. A bispecific antibody as described herein may be a bispecific antibody that recognizes different epitopes on the IL-6 receptor molecule, or a bispecific antibody in which one of the antigen-binding sites recognizes the IL-6 receptor and the other antigen-binding site recognizes an antigen other than the IL-6 receptor. Examples of the second antigens that bind to the other antigen-binding site of a bispecific antibody that comprises an IL-6 receptor-recognizing antibody include IL-6, TNFα, TNFR1, TNFR2, CD80, CD86, CD28, CD20, CD19, IL-lα, IL-β, IL-1R, RANKL, RANK, IL-17, IL-17R, IL-23, IL-23R, IL-15, IL-15R, BlyS, lymphotoxin α, lymphotoxin β, LIGHT ligand, LIGHT, VLA-4, CD25, IL-12, IL-12R, CD40, CD40L, BAFF, CD52, CD22, IL-32, IL-21, IL-21R, GM-CSF, GM-CSFR, M-CSF, M-CSFR, IFN-alpha, VEGF, VEGFR, EGF, EGFR, CCR5, APRIL, and APRILR. Bispecific antibodies can be prepared as full-length antibodies or antibody fragments (e.g. F(ab′)₂ bispecific antibodies).

Exemplified antibodies of the present disclosure include but are not limited to those as shown in the following table.

TABLE 1 Antibodies disclosed herein Seq ID No: Seq ID No: Ref # (Heavy Chain) (Light Chain) 25 1 2 202 3 4 1 5 2 2 6 2 3 7 2 5 8 2 6 9 2 7 10 2 8 11 2 9 12 2 11 13 2 12 14 2 13 15 2 14 16 2 15 17 2 16 18 2 17 19 2 18 20 2 20 21 2 24 22 2 26 23 2 27 24 2 28 25 2 29 26 2 30 27 2 31 28 2 34 29 2 35 30 2 37 31 2 40 32 2 42 33 2 43 34 2 45 35 2 46 36 2 48 37 2 49 38 2 50 39 2 51 40 2 52 41 2 54 42 2 55 43 2 56 44 2 57 45 2 58 46 2 59 47 2 60 48 2 61 49 2 62 50 2 64 51 2 66 52 2 68 53 2 69 54 2 201 55 2 203 56 4 204 26 4 205 27 4 206 28 4 208 57 2 209 58 2 214 59 2 215 60 2 216 61 2 217 62 2 218 63 2 219 59 4 220 60 4 221 61 4 222 62 4 223 63 4 224 64 2 225 65 2 226 66 2 227 67 2 228 68 2 229 69 2 230 70 2 231 71 2 232 72 2 233 73 2 234 74 2 235 75 2 236 76 2 237 64 4 238 65 4 239 66 4 240 67 4 241 68 4 242 69 4 243 70 4 244 71 4 245 72 4 246 73 4 247 74 4 248 75 4 249 76 4 250 77 2 251 78 2 252 76 4 253 77 4 254 1 79 255 1 80 256 1 81 257 1 82 258 1 83 259 1 84 260 1 85 261 1 86 262 1 87 263 1 88 264 89 85 265 89 88 266 1 90

A subject antibody can be produced as a recombinant antibody by cloning DNA encoding the subject antibody or peptide from hybridomas or B cells or any form of antibody and/or antibody fragment libraries, integrating the clone into a suitable vector, and transducing the vector into host cells (for example, P. J. Delves, Antibody Production: Essential Techniques, 1997 WILEY, P. Shepherd and C. Dean Monoclonal Antibodies, 2000 OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, Vandamme A. M. et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 192:767-775 (1990)). Thus, in one aspect, provided herein is an isolated polynucleotide encoding an antibody or fragment thereof of the present disclosure.

Nucleotide sequences corresponding to various regions of L or H chains of an existing antibody can be readily obtained and sequenced using convention techniques including but not limited to hybridization, PCR, and DNA sequencing. Hybridoma cells that produce monoclonal antibodies serve as a preferred source of antibody nucleotide sequences. A vast number of hybridoma cells producing an array of monoclonal antibodies may be obtained from public or private repositories. The largest depository agent is American Type Culture Collection, which offers a diverse collection of well-characterized hybridoma cell lines. Alternatively, antibody nucleotides can be obtained from immunized or non-immunized rodents or humans, and from organs such as spleen and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Specific techniques applicable for extracting and synthesizing antibody nucleotides are described in Orlandi et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 86: 3833-3837, Larrick et al. 1989) biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 160: 1250-1255; Sastry et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A. 86: 5728-5732; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,108.

The antibody nucleotide sequences may also be modified, for example, by substituting the coding sequence for human heavy and light chain constant regions in place of the homologous non-human sequences. In that manner, chimeric antibodies are prepared that retain the binding specificity of the original antibody.

Additionally, polynucleotides encoding the heavy and/or light chains of the antibody or a functional fragment thereof can be subjected to codon optimization to achieve optimized expression of a subject antibody or functional fragment thereof in a desired host cell. For example, in one method of codon optimization, a native codon is substituted by the most frequent codon from a reference set of genes, wherein the rate of codon translation for each amino acid is designed to be high. Additional exemplary methods for generating codon optimized polynucleotides for expression of a desired protein, which can be applied to the heavy and/or light chains of the antibody or a functional fragment thereof, are described in Kanaya et al., Gene, 238:143-155 (1999), Wang et al., Mol. Biol. Evol., 18(5):792-800 (2001), U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,737, U.S. Publication 2008/0076161 and WO 2008/000632.

Polynucleotides of the present disclosure include those coding for functional equivalents and fragments thereof of the exemplified polypeptides. Functional equivalents may be polypeptides having conservative amino acid substitutions, analogs including fusions, and mutants.

Due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, there can be considerable variation in nucleotides of the L and H sequences, as well as the heterodimerization sequences suitable for construction of the polynucleotide and vectors of the present disclosure. These variation are encompassed by the present disclosure.

Where desired, the recombinant polynucleotides may comprise heterologous sequences that facilitate detection of the expression and purification of the gene product. Examples of such sequences include those encoding reporter proteins such as β-galactosidase, β-lactamase, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), luciferase, green fluorescent protein (GFP) and their derivatives. Other heterologous sequences that facilitate purification may code for epitopes such as Myc, HA (derived from influenza virus hemagglutinin), His-6, FLAG, or the Fc portion of immunoglobulin, glutathione S-transferase (GST), and maltose-binding protein (MBP).

The polynucleotides can be conjugated to a variety of chemically functional moieties as described above. Commonly employed moieties include labels capable of producing a detectable signal, signal peptides, agents that enhance or reduce immunologic reactivity, agents that facilitate coupling to a solid support, vaccine carriers, bioresponse modifiers, paramagnetic labels and drugs. The moieties can be covalently linked to a polynucleotide recombinantly or by other means known in the art.

The polynucleotides can comprise additional sequences, such as additional encoding sequences within the same transcription unit, controlling elements such as promoters, ribosome binding sites, and polyadenylation sites, additional transcription units under control of the same or a different promoter, sequences that permit cloning, expression, and transformation of a host cell, and any such construct as may be desirable in accordance with any of the various embodiments described herein.

The polynucleotides can be obtained using chemical synthesis, recombinant cloning methods, PCR, or any combination thereof. One of skill in the art can use the sequence data provided herein to obtain a desired polynucleotide by employing a DNA synthesizer or ordering from a commercial service.

Polynucleotides comprising a desired sequence can be inserted into a suitable vector which in turn can be introduced into a suitable host cell for replication, amplification and expression. Accordingly, in one aspect, provided herein are a variety of vectors comprising one or more of the polynucleotides of the present disclosure. Also provided is a selectable library of expression vectors comprising at least one vector encoding the subject antibody.

Vectors of the present disclosure are generally categorized into cloning and expression vectors. Cloning vectors are useful for obtaining replicate copies of the polynucleotides they contain, or as a means of storing the polynucleotides in a depository for future recovery. Expression vectors (and host cells containing these expression vectors) can be used to obtain polypeptides produced from the polynucleotides they contain. Suitable cloning and expression vectors include any known in the art, e.g., those for use in bacterial, mammalian, yeast, insect and phage display expression systems.

Suitable cloning vectors can be constructed according to standard techniques, or selected from a large number of cloning vectors available in the art. While the cloning vector selected may vary according to the host cell intended to be used, useful cloning vectors will generally have the ability to self-replicate, may possess a single target for a particular restriction endonuclease, or may carry marker genes. Suitable examples include plasmids and bacterial viruses, e.g., pBR322, pMB9, ColE1, pCR1, RP4, pUC18, mp18, mp19, phage DNAs (including filamentous and non-filamentous phage DNAs), and shuttle vectors such as pSA3 and pAT28. These and other cloning vectors are available from commercial vendors such as Clontech, BiORad, Stratagene, and Invitrogen.

Expression vectors containing these nucleic acids are useful to obtain host vector systems to produce proteins and polypeptides. Typically, these expression vectors are replicable in the host organisms either as episomes or as an integral part of the chromosomal DNA. Suitable expression vectors include plasmids, viral vectors, including phagemids, adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, retroviruses, cosmids, etc. A number of expression vectors suitable for expression in eukaryotic cells including yeast, avian, and mammalian cells are available. One example of an expression vector is pcDNA3 (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.), in which transcription is driven by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) early promoter/enhancer. Two types of particularly useful expression vectors for expressing the subject antibody as described herein are the phage display vector and bacterial display vector.

For example techniques for constructing phage display vectors, see e.g. the review article by Winter G. et al. (1994) Ann. Rev. Immunol. 12:433-55. Both filamentous and non-filamentous phage sequences are applicable for constructing a display vector. Filamentous phage vectors are preferred because the genomes of many representative phages of this class have been sequenced, and their genomes are found to be much smaller than that of non-filamentous phages. Representative phages of this class include M13, fl, fd, Ifl, Ike, Xf, Pf1, and Pf3. The phage vector typically is constructed to express heteromultimers, e.g. antibody peptides, by fusion to a part or all of a phage coat protein. Suitable coat proteins include pIII, VIII, VI, VII and IX of M13. The heteromultimer sequence is typically inserted into the phage vector in such a way that the integrity of the expressed phage coat is not undermined, and the heteromultimer is preferably biologically functional.

For constructing pIII fusion vector, commonly employed fusion sites are located at the amino terminus, in between the flexible spacer between the two domains of pIII (see e.g. Smith et al. Science 288:1315-17), or any other alternative fusion sites described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,969,108, 5,837,500. The pIII fusion and other proteins of the phage can be encoded entirely within the same page replicon or on different replicons. When at least two replicons are used, the pIII fusion is generally encoded on a phagemid, a plasmid containing a phage origin of replication. Phagemids can be packaged into phage particles by “rescue” with a helper phage such as M13KO7, which provides all the phage proteins, including pIII, but due to a defect origin is itself poorly packaged in competition with the phagemids. Other multivalent helper phages (e.g. M13.DELTA.gIII) that lack or contain altered pIII to enhance the package efficiency can also be employed (Rondot et al. Nature Biotechnology 19:75-78).

Similar constructions can be made with other filamentous phage. Pf3 is a well-known filamentous phage that infects Pseudomonas aerugenosa cells that harbor an IncP-1 plasmid. The entire genome has been sequenced and the genetic signals involved in replication and assembly are characterized. The major coat protein of PF3 is unusual in having no signal peptide to direct its secretion. The sequence has charged residues ASP₇, ARG₃₇, LYS₄₀, and PHE₄₄-COO⁻ which is consistent with the amino terminus being exposed. To construct a display Pf3 vector, it is generally desirable to engineer a signal sequence known to cause secretion in P. aerugenosa fused in-frame to a gene fragment encoding a heterologous polypeptide, which in turn is fused in-frame with a DNA encoding the mature Pf3 coat protein.

The same general construction scheme applies to generating display vectors containing sequences derived from non-filamentous phages including bacteriophage X174, λ, T4 and T7 phages. A corresponding display vector that expresses the subject heteromultimers using the unique heterodimerization sequences can be generated.

In addition to phage display vector, another class of preferred vector is a bacterial display vector. The general scheme outlined above is equally applicable for constructing such vectors. Briefly, the vectors facilitate expression of a heteromultimer, antibody of the present disclosure in particular, as a fusion with a bacterial surface protein. A variety of bacterial surface proteins are applicable for expressing such fusions. Non-limiting examples of bacterial surface proteins include LamB (Bremer et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci U.S.A. (1984) 81:3830-34; Gene (1987) 52:165-73); OmpA (Prog Biophys Molec Biol (1987) 49:89-115); OmpC; OmpF (Pages et al. Biochemimie (1990) 72:169-76); PhoE (van der Ley et al. J. Biol. Chem. 261:12222-5); pilin (So et al. Curr Top in Microbiol & Immunol (1985) 118:13-28); pldA (de Geus et al. EMBO J. (1984) 3(8): 1799-1802) and their homologs. Characterization of these and other surface proteins, and the methods of using these proteins for displaying heterologous polypeptides are detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,500 as well as the references cited therein.

The vectors of the present disclosure typically comprise transcriptional or translational control sequences required for expressing the encoded antibody. Suitable transcription or translational control sequences include but are not limited to replication origin, promoter, enhancer, repressor binding regions, transcription initiation sites, ribosome binding sites, translation initiation sites, and termination sites for transcription and translation.

The expression vector can be transferred to a host cell and the transfected cells are then cultured to produce a subject antibody or functional fragment thereof. Thus, in one aspect, provided herein are host cells containing a polynucleotide encoding a subject antibody or functional fragment thereof operably linked to a heterologous promoter. The host cell can be co-transfected with two expression vectors, the first vector encoding a heavy chain derived polypeptide and the second vector encoding a light chain derived polypeptide. The two vectors can contain identical selectable markers which enable equal expression of heavy and light chain polypeptides. Alternatively, a single vector can be used which encodes, and is capable of expressing, both heavy and light chain polypeptides. In such situations, the light chain can be placed before the heavy chain to avoid an excess of toxic free heavy chain (Proudfoot, 1986, Nature 322:52; and Kohler, 1980, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:2197-2199).

A variety of host-expression vector systems can be utilized to express the subject antibody or functional fragment thereof (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,715). Such host-expression systems represent vehicles by which the coding sequences of interest can be produced and subsequently purified, but also represent cells which can, when transformed or transfected with the appropriate nucleotide coding sequences, express a subject antibody molecule in situ. These include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., E. coli and B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences; yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces Pichia) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing antibody coding sequences; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g., Ti plasmid) containing antibody coding sequences; or mammalian cell systems (e.g., COS, CHO, BHK, 293, NSO, and 3T3 cells) harboring recombinant expression constructs containing promoters derived from the genome of mammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalian viruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5K promoter). For example, mammalian cells such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), in conjunction with a vector such as the major intermediate early gene promoter element from human cytomegalovirus is an effective expression system for antibodies (Foecking et al., 1986, Gene 45:101; and Cockett et al., 1990, Bio/Technology 8:2). In some embodiments, antibodies or fragments thereof are produced in CHO cells.

For bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors may be advantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the antibody molecule being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such an antibody or fragment thereof is to be produced, for the generation of pharmaceutical compositions of an antibody molecule, vectors which direct the expression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readily purified can be desirable. Such vectors include, but are not limited to, the E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., 1983, EMBO 12:1791), in which the antibody coding sequence can be ligated individually into the vector in frame with the lac Z coding region so that a fusion protein is produced; pIN vectors (Inouye & Inouye, 1985, Nucleic Acids Res. 13:3101-3109; Van Heeke & Schuster, 1989, J. Biol. Chem. 24:5503-5509); and the like. pGEX vectors can also be used to express foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathione 5-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption and binding to matrix glutathione agarose beads followed by elution in the presence of free glutathione. The pGEX vectors are designed to include thrombin or factor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned target gene product can be released from the GST moiety.

In an insect system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) can be used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virus grows in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. The antibody or functional fragment coding sequence can be cloned individually into non-essential regions (for example the polyhedrin gene) of the virus and placed under control of an AcNPV promoter (for example the polyhedrin promoter).

In mammalian host cells, a number of viral-based expression systems can be utilized. In cases where an adenovirus is used as an expression vector, the antibody coding sequence of interest can be ligated to an adenovirus transcription/translation control complex, e.g., the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. This chimeric gene can then be inserted in the adenovirus genome by in vitro or in vivo recombination. Insertion in a non-essential region of the viral genome (e.g., region E1 or E3) will result in a recombinant virus that is viable and capable of expressing the antibody molecule in infected hosts (e.g., see Logan & Shenk, 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 8 1:355-359). Specific initiation signals can also be used for efficient translation of inserted antibody coding sequences. These signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. Furthermore, the initiation codon must be in phase with the reading frame of the desired coding sequence to ensure translation of the entire insert. These exogenous translational control signals and initiation codons can be of a variety of origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression can be enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcription enhancer elements, transcription terminators, etc. (see, e.g., Bittner et al., 1987, Methods in Enzymol. 153:51-544).

For plant cells, a variety of vector delivery techniques is available in the art. The host cells may be in the form of whole plants, isolated cells or protoplasts. Illustrative procedures for introducing vectors into plant cells include Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation, protoplast transformation, gene transfer into pollen, injection into reproductive organs and injection into immature embryos. As is evident to one skilled in the art, each of these methods has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Thus, one particular method of introducing vectors into a particular plant species may not necessarily be the most effective for another plant species.

In addition, a host cell strain can be chosen which modulates the expression of the inserted sequences, or modifies and processes the gene product in the specific fashion desired. Such modifications (e.g., glycosylation) and processing (e.g., cleavage) of protein products can be important for the function of the antibody or functional fragment. Different host cells have characteristic and specific mechanisms for the post-translational processing and modification of proteins and gene products. Appropriate cell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the foreign protein expressed. To this end, eukaryotic host cells which possess the cellular machinery for proper processing of the primary transcript, glycosylation, and phosphorylation of the gene product can be used. Such mammalian host cells include but are not limited to CHO, VERY, BHK, Hela, COS, MDCK, 293, 3T3, W138, BT483, Hs578T, HTB2, BT2O and T47D, NSO (a murine myeloma cell line that does not endogenously produce any immunoglobulin chains), CRL7O3O and HsS78Bst cells.

For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins, stable expression is preferred. For example, cell lines which stably express an antibody or functional fragment thereof can be engineered. Rather than using expression vectors which contain viral origins of replication, host cells can be transformed with DNA controlled by appropriate expression control elements (e.g., promoter, enhancer, sequences, transcription terminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a selectable marker. Following the introduction of the foreign DNA, engineered cells can be allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media, and then are switched to a selective media. The selectable marker in the recombinant plasmid confers resistance to the selection and allows cells to stably integrate the plasmid into their chromosomes and grow to form foci which in turn can be cloned and expanded into cell lines. This method can advantageously be used to engineer cell lines which express the antibody molecule.

A number of selection systems can be used, including but not limited to, systems using the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler et al., 1977, Cell 11:223), hypoxanthineguanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Szybalska & Szybalski, 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 48:202), and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy et al., 1980, Cell 22:8-17) genes in tk-, hgprt- or aprt-cells, respectively. Also, antimetabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for the following genes: dhfr, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigler et al., 1980, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 77(6):3567-70; O'Hare et al., 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:1527); glutamine synthetase (GS), which is an enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of glutamine using glutamate and ammonia (Bebbington et al., 1992, Biuotechnology 10:169); gpt, which confers resistance to mycophenolic acid (Mulligan & Berg, 1981, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2072); neo, which confers resistance to the aminoglycoside G-418 (Wu and Wu, 1991, Biotherapy 3:87-95; Tolstoshev, 1993, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596; Mulligan, 1993, Science 260:926-932; and Morgan and Anderson, 1993, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 62:191-217; May, 1993, TIB TECH 11(5):155-215); and hygro, which confers resistance to hygromycin (Santerre et al., 1984, Gene 30:147). Recombinant DNA technology methods can be applied to select the desired recombinant clone, and such methods are described, for example, in Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N Y (1993); Kriegler, Gene Transfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, Stockton Press, N Y (1990); and in Chapters 12 and 13, Dracopoli et al. (eds.), Current Protocols in Human Genetics, John Wiley & Sons, N Y (1994); Colberre-Garapin et al., 1981, J. Mol. Biol. 150:1, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. The expression levels of an antibody molecule can be increased by vector amplification (for a review, see Bebbington and Hentschel, The use of vectors based on gene amplification for the expression of cloned genes in mammalian cells in DNA cloning, Vol. 3 (Academic Press, New York, 1987)). When a marker in the vector system expressing an antibody or functional fragment thereof is amplifiable, increase in the level of inhibitor present in culture of host cell will increase the number of copies of the marker gene. Since the amplified region is associated with the antibody gene, production of the antibody will also increase (Crouse et al., 1983, Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:257).

Once an antibody molecule has been produced by recombinant expression, it can be purified by any suitable method for purification of an immunoglobulin molecule, for example, by chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity, particularly by affinity for the specific antigen after Protein A, and sizing column chromatography), centrifugation, differential solubility, or by any other standard technique for the purification of proteins. Further, the subject antibodies or functional fragments thereof can be fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences provided herein or otherwise known in the art to facilitate purification. For example, a subject antibody or functional fragment thereof can be purified through recombinantly adding a poly-histidine tag (His-tag), FLAG-tag, hemagglutinin tag (HA-tag) or myc-tag among others that are commercially available and utilizing suitable purification methods.

Method of Treatment

In another aspect, provided herein are methods of using the subject antibody or a functional fragment thereof to treat conditions, diseases or disorders implicated by IL-6/IL-6 receptor malfunction.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of treating an inflammatory disorder in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure. In some cases, the inflammatory disorder is multiple sclerosis. In other cases, the inflammatory disorder is an autoimmune disease. Examples of autoimmune diseases include but are not limited to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Addison's disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), aplastic anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, Diabetes mellitus (type 1), Goodpasture's syndrome, Graves' disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), Hashimoto's disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS), optic neuritis, Ord's thyroiditis, oemphigus, polyarthritis, primary biliary cirrhosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), asthma, Reiter's syndrome, Takayasu's arteritis, temporal arteritis (also known as “giant cell arteritis”), warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Wegener's granulomatosis, alopecia universalis, Chagas' disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, dysautonomia, endometriosis, hidradenitis suppurativa, interstitial cystitis, neuromyotonia, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, ulcerative colitis, vitiligo, and vulvodynia. Other disorders include bone-resorption disorders and thromobsis.

In further embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of treating cancer in a mammal in need thereof, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure. In some cases, the cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma. In other cases, the cancer is acute myeloid leukemia, thymus, brain, lung, squamous cell, skin, eye, retinoblastoma, intraocular melanoma, oral cavity and oropharyngeal, bladder, gastric, stomach, pancreatic, bladder, breast, cervical, head, neck, renal, kidney, liver, ovarian, prostate, colorectal, esophageal, testicular, gynecological, thyroid, CNS, PNS, AIDS related (e.g. Lymphoma and Kaposi's Sarcoma) or Viral-Induced cancer.

In still further embodiments, an antibody of the present disclosure is used for the treatment of bursitis, lupus, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), addison's disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), aplastic anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, coeliac disease, crohn's disease, diabetes mellitus (type 1), goodpasture's syndrome, graves' disease, guillain-barré syndrome (GBS), hashimoto's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS), optic neuritis, ord's thyroiditis, ostheoarthritis, uveoretinitis, pemphigus, polyarthritis, primary biliary cirrhosis, reiter's syndrome, takayasu's arteritis, temporal arteritis, warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, wegener's granulomatosis, alopecia universalis, chagas' disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, dysautonomia, endometriosis, hidradenitis suppurativa, interstitial cystitis, neuromyotonia, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, ulcerative colitis, vitiligo, vulvodynia, appendicitis, arteritis, arthritis, blepharitis, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, cervicitis, cholangitis, cholecystitis, chorioamnionitis, colitis, conjunctivitis, cystitis, dacryoadenitis, dermatomyositis, endocarditis, endometritis, enteritis, enterocolitis, epicondylitis, epididymitis, fasciitis, fibrositis, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gingivitis, hepatitis, hidradenitis, ileitis, iritis, laryngitis, mastitis, meningitis, myelitis, myocarditis, myositis, nephritis, omphalitis, oophoritis, orchitis, osteitis, otitis, pancreatitis, parotitis, pericarditis, peritonitis, pharyngitis, pleuritis, phlebitis, pneumonitis, proctitis, prostatitis, pyelonephritis, rhinitis, salpingitis, sinusitis, stomatitis, synovitis, tendonitis, tonsillitis, uveitis, vaginitis, vasculitis, or vulvitis.

In some embodiments, an antibody of the present disclosure is used for the treatment of infection, endotoxic shock associated with infection, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), asthma, pelvic inflammatory disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Castleman's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, dermatomyositis, uveitis, Peyronie's Disease, coeliac disease, gallbladder disease, Pilonidal disease, peritonitis, psoriasis, vasculitis, surgical adhesions, stroke, Type I Diabetes, lyme arthritis, meningoencephalitis, immune mediated inflammatory disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system, autoimmune disorders, pancreatitis, trauma from surgery, graft-versus-host disease, transplant rejection, heart disease, bone resorption, burns patients, myocardial infarction, Paget's disease, osteoporosis, sepsis, liver/lung fibrosis, periodontitis, hypochlorhydia, solid tumors (renal cell carcinoma), prostatic and bladder cancers, pancreatic cancer, neurological cancers, and B-cell malignancies (e.g., Casteleman's disease, certain lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma).

In some embodiments, the subject to be treated is a mammal, such as a human. In other cases, the mammal is a mouse, a rat, a cat, a dog, a rabbit, a pig, a sheep, a horse, a bovine, a goat, a gerbil, a hamster, a guinea pig, a monkey or any other mammal Many such mammals may be subjects that are known to the art as preclinical models for certain diseases or disorders, including inflammatory diseases, solid tumors and/or other cancers (e.g., Talmadge et al., 2007 Am. J. Pathol. 170:793; Kerbel, 2003 Canc. Biol. Therap. 2(4 Suppl 1):S134; Man et al., 2007 Canc. Met. Rev. 26:737; Cespedes et al., 2006 Clin. TransL Oncol. 8:318).

In another aspect, the disclosure provides methods of using an antibody of the present disclosure to treat diseases, conditions or disorders in a mammal in conjunction with a second agent. The second agent could be administered together with, before, or after the antibody. In some embodiments, the second agent is an antiviral agent. Antiviral agents include but are not limited to telaprevir, boceprevir, semiprevir, sofosbuvir, daclastavir, asunaprevir, lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir, tenofovir, telbivudine, interferon alpha and PEGylated interferon alpha. In other embodiments, the second agent is an agent that acts to relieve the symptoms of inflammatory conditions described herein. Anti-inflammatory agents include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. NSAIDs include but are not limited to, salicylates, such as acetylsalicylic acid; diflunisal, salicylic acid, and salsalate; propionic acid derivatives, such as ibuprofen; naproxen; dexibuprofen, dexketoprofen, flurbiprofen, oxaprozin, fenoprofen, loxoprofen, and ketoprofen; acetic acid derivatives, such as indomethacin, diclofenac, tolmetin, aceclofenac, sulindac, nabumetone, etodolac, and ketorolac; enolic acid derivatives, such as piroxicam, lornoxicam, meloxicam, isoxicam, tenoxicam, phenylbutazone, and droxicam; anthranilic acid derivatives, such as mefenamic acid, flufenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, and tolfenamic acid; selective COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib, lumiracoxib, rofecoxib, etoricoxib, valdecoxib, firocoxib, and parecoxib; sulfonanilides, such as nimesulide; and others such as clonixin, and licofelone. Corticosteroids include but are not limited to, cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, and prednisolone.

In some embodiments, the second agent is an immunosuppressant. The immunosuppressants that can be used in combination with the subject antibody include but are not limited to hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, D-penicillamine, oral gold compound, injectable gold compound (intramuscular injection), minocycline, sodium gold thiomalate, auranofin, D-penicillamine, lobenzarit, bucillamine, actarit, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, mizoribine, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus.

In further embodiments, the second agent is an anti-cancer agent (e.g. a chemotherapeutic agent). The chemotherapeutic can be selected from the group consisting of mitotic inhibitors, alkylating agents, anti-metabolites, intercalating antibiotics, growth factor inhibitors, cell cycle inhibitors, enzymes, topoisomerase inhibitors, biological response modifiers, anti-hormones, angiogenesis inhibitors, and anti-androgens. Non-limiting examples of chemotherapeutic agents, cytotoxic agents, and non-peptide small molecules include Gleevec® (Imatinib Mesylate), Velcade® (bortezomib), Casodex (bicalutamide), Iressa® (gefitinib), and Adriamycin as well as a host of chemotherapeutic agents. Non-limiting examples of chemotherapeutic agents include alkylating agents such as thiotepa and cyclosphosphamide (CYTOXAN™); alkyl sulfonates such as busulfan, improsulfan and piposulfan; aziridines such as benzodopa, carboquone, meturedopa, and uredopa; ethylenimines and methylamelamines including altretamine, triethylenemelamine, trietylenephosphoramide, triethylenethiophosphaoramide and trimethylolomelamine; nitrogen mustards such as chlorambucil, chlornaphazine, cholophosphamide, estramustine, ifosfamide, mechlorethamine, mechlorethamine oxide hydrochloride, melphalan, novembichin, phenesterine, prednimustine, trofosfamide, uracil mustard; nitrosureas such as carmustine, chlorozotocin, fotemustine, lomustine, nimustine, ranimustine; antibiotics such as aclacinomysins, actinomycin, authramycin, azaserine, bleomycins, cactinomycin, calicheamicin, carabicin, carminomycin, carzinophilin, Casodex™, chromomycins, dactinomycin, daunorubicin, detorubicin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine, doxorubicin, epirubicin, esorubicin, idarubicin, marcellomycin, mitomycins, mycophenolic acid, nogalamycin, olivomycins, peplomycin, potfiromycin, puromycin, quelamycin, rodorubicin, streptonigrin, streptozocin, tubercidin, ubenimex, zinostatin, zorubicin; anti-metabolites such as methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); folic acid analogues such as denopterin, methotrexate, pteropterin, trimetrexate; purine analogs such as fludarabine, 6-mercaptopurine, thiamiprine, thioguanine; pyrimidine analogs such as ancitabine, azacitidine, 6-azauridine, carmofur, cytarabine, dideoxyuridine, doxifluridine, enocitabine, floxuridine, androgens such as calusterone, dromostanolone propionate, epitiostanol, mepitiostane, testolactone; anti-adrenals such as aminoglutethimide, mitotane, trilostane; folic acid replenisher such as frolinic acid; aceglatone; aldophosphamide glycoside; aminolevulinic acid; amsacrine; bestrabucil; bisantrene; edatraxate; defofamine; demecolcine; diaziquone; elfomithine; elliptinium acetate; etoglucid; gallium nitrate; hydroxyurea; lentinan; lonidamine; mitoguazone; mitoxantrone; mopidamol; nitracrine; pentostatin; phenamet; pirarubicin; podophyllinic acid; 2-ethylhydrazide; procarbazine; PSK.R™; razoxane; sizofiran; spirogermanium; tenuazonic acid; triaziquone; 2,2′,2″-trichlorotriethylamine; urethan; vindesine; dacarbazine; mannomustine; mitobronitol; mitolactol; pipobroman; gacytosine; arabinoside (“Ara-C”); cyclophosphamide; thiotepa; taxanes, e.g. paclitaxel (TAXOL™, Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology, Princeton, N.J.) and docetaxel (TAXOTERE™, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, France); retinoic acid; esperamicins; capecitabine; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, acids or derivatives of any of the above. Also included as suitable chemotherapeutic cell conditioners are anti-hormonal agents that act to regulate or inhibit hormone action on tumors such as anti-estrogens including for example tamoxifen, (Nolvadex™), raloxifene, aromatase inhibiting 4(5)-imidazoles, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, trioxifene, keoxifene, LY 117018, onapristone, and toremifene (Fareston); and anti-androgens such as flutamide, nilutamide, bicalutamide, leuprolide, and goserelin; chlorambucil; gemcitabine; 6-thioguanine; mercaptopurine; methotrexate; platinum analogs such as cisplatin and carboplatin; vinblastine; platinum; etoposide (VP-16); ifosfamide; mitomycin C; mitoxantrone; vincristine; vinorelbine; navelbine; novantrone; teniposide; daunomycin; aminopterin; xeloda; ibandronate; camptothecin-11 (CPT-11); topoisomerase inhibitor RFS 2000; difluoromethylornithine (DMFO). Where desired, the subject antibody or fragment thereof can be used in combination with commonly prescribed anti-cancer drugs such as Herceptin®, Avastin®, Erbitux®, Rituxan®, Taxol®, Arimidex®, Taxotere®, ABVD, AVICINE, Abagovomab, Acridine carboxamide, Adecatumumab, 17-N-Allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, Alpharadin, Alvocidib, 3-Aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, Amonafide, Anthracenedione, Anti-CD22 immunotoxins, Antineoplastic, Antitumorigenic herbs, Apaziquone, Atiprimod, Azathioprine, Belotecan, Bendamustine, BIBW 2992, Biricodar, Brostallicin, Bryostatin, Buthionine sulfoximine, CBV (chemotherapy), Calyculin, cell-cycle nonspecific antineoplastic agents, Dichloroacetic acid, Discodermolide, Elsamitrucin, Enocitabine, Epothilone, Eribulin, Everolimus, Exatecan, Exisulind, Ferruginol, Forodesine, Fosfestrol, ICE chemotherapy regimen, IT-101, Imexon, Imiquimod, Indolocarbazole, Irofulven, Laniquidar, Larotaxel, Lenalidomide, Lucanthone, Lurtotecan, Mafosfamide, Mitozolomide, Nafoxidine, Nedaplatin, Olaparib, Ortataxel, PAC-1, Pawpaw, Pixantrone, Proteasome inhibitor, Rebeccamycin, Resiquimod, Rubitecan, SN-38, Salinosporamide A, Sapacitabine, Stanford V, Swainsonine, Talaporfin, Tariquidar, Tegafur-uracil, Temodar, Tesetaxel, Triplatin tetranitrate, Tris(2-chloroethyl)amine, Troxacitabine, Uramustine, Vadimezan, Vinflunine, ZD6126, and Zosuquidar.

The specific dose will vary depending on the particular antibody chosen, the dosing regimen to be followed, whether it is administered in combination with other agents, timing of administration, the tissue to which it is administered, and the physical delivery system in which it is carried. In some embodiments, an antibody is administered to a subject within a range of about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, or 70 mg per week on average over the course of a treatment cycle. For example, the antibody is administered to a subject within a range of about 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, or 55 mg per week. In some embodiments, the antibody is administered to a subject within a range of about 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, or 55 mg per week.

In some embodiments, an antibody is administered to a subject in an amount greater than 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, or 10 mg per day on average over the course of a treatment cycle. For example, the antibody is administered to a subject in an amount between about 6 and 10 mg, between about 6.5 and 9.5 mg, between about 6.5 and 8.5 mg, between about 6.5 and 8 mg, or between about 7 and 9 mg per day on average over the course of a treatment cycle.

In some embodiments, an antibody is administered to a subject within a range of about 0.01 mg/kg-50 mg/kg per day, such as about, less than about, or more than about, 0.01 mg/kg, 0.02 mg/kg, 0.03 mg/kg, 0.04 mg/kg, 0.05 mg/kg, 0.06 mg/kg, 0.07 mg/kg, 0.08 mg/kg, 0.09 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, 0.4 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, 7 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg, 9 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 11 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg, 13 mg/kg, 14 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 16 mg/kg, 17 mg/kg, 18 mg/kg, 19 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 35 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, or 50 mg/kg per day. In some embodiments, an antibody is administered to a subject within a range of about 0.1 mg/kg-400 mg/kg per week, such as about, less than about, or more than about 0.1 mg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, 0.4 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.6 mg/kg, 0.7 mg/kg, 0.8 mg/kg, 0.9 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 35 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, 350 mg/kg, or 400 mg/kg per week. In some embodiments, an antibody is administered to a subject within a range of about 0.4 mg/kg-1500 mg/kg per month, such as about, less than about, or more than about 0.4 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 35 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, 350 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 450 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, 550 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg, 650 mg/kg, 700 mg/kg, 750 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg, 850 mg/kg, 900 mg/kg, 950 mg/kg, or 1000 mg/kg per month. In some embodiments, an antibody is administered to a subject within a range of about 0.1 mg/m²-200 mg/m² per week, such as about, less than about, or more than about 1 mg/m², 5 mg/m², 10 mg/m², 15 mg/m², 20 mg/m², 25 mg/m², 30 mg/m², 35 mg/m², 40 mg/m², 45 mg/m², 50 mg/m², 55 mg/m², 60 mg/m², 65 mg/m², 70 mg/m², 75 mg/m², 100 mg/m², 125 mg/m², 150 mg/m², 175 mg/m², or 200 mg/m² per week. The target dose may be administered in a single dose. Alternatively, the target dose may be administered in about or more than about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, or more doses. For example, a dose of about 1 mg/kg per week may be delivered weekly at a dose of about 1 mg/kg every week, about 2 mg/kg administered every two weeks, or about 4 mg/kg administered every four weeks over the course of the week. The administration schedule may be repeated according to any regimen as described herein, including any administration schedule described herein. In some embodiments, an antibody is administered to a subject in the range of about 0.1 mg/m²-500 mg/m², such as about, less than about, or more than about 1 mg/m², 5 mg/m², 10 mg/m², 15 mg/m², 20 mg/m², 25 mg/m², 30 mg/m², 35 mg/m², 40 mg/m², 45 mg/m², 50 mg/m², 55 mg/m², 60 mg/m², 65 mg/m², 70 mg/m², 75 mg/m², 100 mg/m², 130 mg/m², 135 mg/m², 155 mg/m², 175 mg/m², 200 mg/m², 225 mg/m², 250 mg/m², 300 mg/m², 350 mg/m², 400 mg/m², 420 mg/m², 450 mg/m², or 500 mg/m².

A dose of the antibody may be about, at least about, or at most about 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, 500, 525, 550, 575, 600, 625, 650, 675, 700, 725, 750, 775, 800, 825, 850, 875, 900, 925, 950, 975, 1000 mg or mg/kg, or any range derivable therein. It is contemplated that a dosage of mg/kg refers to the mg amount of antibody per kg of total body weight of the subject. It is contemplated that when multiple doses are given to a patient, the doses may vary in amount or they may be the same.

Pharmaceutical Composition

In another aspect, provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the subject antibody or a functional fragment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or stabilizer including but not limited to inert solid diluents and fillers, diluents, sterile aqueous solution and various organic solvents, permeation enhancers, solubilizers and adjuvants. (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences 16th edition, Osol, A. Ed. (1980)).

The subject pharmaceutical composition may, for example, be in a form suitable for oral administration as a tablet, capsule, pill, powder, sustained release formulations, solution, suspension, for parenteral injection as a sterile solution, suspension or emulsion, for topical administration as an ointment or cream or for rectal administration as a suppository. Suitable examples of sustained release preparations include semipermeable matrices of solid hydrophobic polymers containing the antibody, which matrices are in the form of shaped articles, e.g. films, or microcapsules. Examples of sustained-release matrices include polyesters, hydrogels (for example, poly(2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate), or poly(vinylalcohol)), polylactides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,919), copolymers of L-glutamic acid and γ ethyl-L-glutamate, non-degradable ethylene-vinyl acetate, degradable lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymers such as the LUPRON DEPOT′ (injectable microspheres composed of lactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and leuprolide acetate), and poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid. Some sustained release formulations enable release of molecules over a few weeks to a few months, or even up to a few years. In some embodiments, the subject pharmaceutical composition release the subject antibody as described herein for at least a few weeks, such as for at least 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks or 4 weeks. In further embodiments, the subject pharmaceutical composition release the subject antibody as described herein over a few months, such as for at least 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, or 6 months.

The pharmaceutical composition may be in unit dosage forms suitable for single administration of precise dosages. The pharmaceutical composition can further comprise an antibody or a functional fragment thereof as an active ingredient and may include a conventional pharmaceutical carrier or excipient. Further, it may include other medicinal or pharmaceutical agents, carriers, adjuvants, etc.

Exemplary parenteral administration forms include solutions or suspensions of active polypeptide and/or PEG-modified polypeptide in sterile aqueous solutions, for example, aqueous propylene glycol or dextrose solutions. Such dosage forms can be suitably buffered with salts such as histidine and/or phosphate, if desired.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition for injection containing a subject antibody or a functional fragment thereof and a pharmaceutical excipient suitable for injection. Example components and amounts of agents in such compositions are as described herein.

The forms in which the compositions of the present disclosure may be incorporated for administration by injection include aqueous or oil suspensions, or emulsions, with sesame oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, or peanut oil, as well as elixirs, mannitol, dextrose, or a sterile aqueous solution, and similar pharmaceutical vehicles.

Aqueous solutions in saline can be used for injection. Ethanol, glycerol, propylene glycol, liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like (and suitable mixtures thereof), cyclodextrin derivatives, and vegetable oils may also be employed. The proper fluidity can be maintained, for example, by the use of a coating, such as lecithin, for the maintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion and by the use of surfactants. The prevention of the action of microorganisms can be brought about by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thimerosal, and the like.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating an antibody of the present disclosure or functional fragment thereof in the desired amount in the appropriate solvent with various other ingredients as enumerated above, followed by filtered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared by incorporating the various sterilized active ingredients into a sterile vehicle which contains the basic dispersion medium and other ingredients. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation of sterile injectable solutions, certain desirable methods of preparation are vacuum-drying and freeze-drying techniques which yield a powder of the active ingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previously sterile-filtered solution thereof.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition for oral administration containing an antibody of the present disclosure or a functional fragment thereof, and a pharmaceutical excipient suitable for oral administration.

In some embodiments, a solid pharmaceutical composition for oral administration is provided herein containing: (i) an effective amount of an antibody of the present disclosure or a functional fragment thereof; optionally (ii) an effective amount of a second agent; and (iii) a pharmaceutical excipient suitable for oral administration. In some embodiments, the composition further contains: (iv) an effective amount of a third agent.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition is a liquid pharmaceutical composition suitable for oral consumption. Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for oral administration can be presented as discrete dosage forms, such as capsules, cachets, or tablets, or liquids or aerosol sprays each containing a predetermined amount of an active ingredient as a powder or in granules, a solution, or a suspension in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid, an oil-in-water emulsion, or a water-in-oil liquid emulsion. Such dosage forms can be prepared by any of the methods of pharmacy, and typically include the step of bringing the active ingredient into association with the carrier, which constitutes one or more necessary ingredients. In general, the compositions are prepared by uniformly and intimately admixing the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired presentation.

This disclosure further encompasses anhydrous pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms comprising an active ingredient, since water can facilitate the degradation of some polypeptides. For example, water may be added (e.g., 5%) in the pharmaceutical arts as a means of simulating long-term storage in order to determine characteristics such as shelf-life or the stability of formulations over time. Anhydrous pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms can be prepared using anhydrous or low moisture containing ingredients and low moisture or low humidity conditions. Pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms which contain lactose can be made anhydrous if substantial contact with moisture and/or humidity during manufacturing, packaging, and/or storage is expected. An anhydrous pharmaceutical composition may be prepared and stored such that its anhydrous nature is maintained. Accordingly, anhydrous compositions may be packaged using materials known to prevent exposure to water such that they can be included in suitable formulary kits. Examples of suitable packaging include, but are not limited to, hermetically sealed foils, plastic or the like, unit dose containers, blister packs, and strip packs.

An antibody of the present disclosure can be combined in an intimate admixture with a pharmaceutical carrier according to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques. The carrier can take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. In preparing the compositions for an oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media can be employed as carriers, such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents, and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations (such as suspensions, solutions, and elixirs) or aerosols; or carriers such as starches, sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders, and disintegrating agents can be used in the case of oral solid preparations, in some embodiments without employing the use of lactose. For example, suitable carriers include powders, capsules, and tablets, with the solid oral preparations. If desired, tablets can be coated by standard aqueous or nonaqueous techniques.

Binders suitable for use in pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms include, but are not limited to, corn starch, potato starch, or other starches, gelatin, natural and synthetic gums such as acacia, sodium alginate, alginic acid, other alginates, powdered tragacanth, guar gum, cellulose and its derivatives (e.g., ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, carboxymethyl cellulose calcium, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methyl cellulose, pre-gelatinized starch, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, and mixtures thereof.

Examples of suitable fillers for use in the pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms include, but are not limited to, talc, calcium carbonate (e.g., granules or powder), microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose, dextrates, kaolin, mannitol, silicic acid, sorbitol, starch, pre-gelatinized starch, and mixtures thereof.

Disintegrants may be used in the compositions to provide tablets that disintegrate when exposed to an aqueous environment. Too much of a disintegrant may produce tablets which may disintegrate in the bottle. Too little may be insufficient for disintegration to occur and may thus alter the rate and extent of release of the active ingredient(s) from the dosage form. Thus, a sufficient amount of disintegrant that is neither too little nor too much to detrimentally alter the release of the active ingredient(s) may be used to form the dosage forms. The amount of disintegrant used may vary based upon the type of formulation and mode of administration, and may be readily discernible to those of ordinary skill in the art. About 0.5 to about 15 weight percent of disintegrant, or about 1 to about 5 weight percent of disintegrant, may be used in the pharmaceutical composition. Disintegrants that can be used to form pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms include, but are not limited to, agar-agar, alginic acid, calcium carbonate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, polacrilin potassium, sodium starch glycolate, potato or tapioca starch, other starches, pre-gelatinized starch, other starches, clays, other algins, other celluloses, gums or mixtures thereof.

Lubricants which can be used to form pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms include, but are not limited to, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, mineral oil, light mineral oil, glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol, polyethylene glycol, other glycols, stearic acid, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, hydrogenated vegetable oil (e.g., peanut oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil, and soybean oil), zinc stearate, ethyl oleate, ethyl laureate, agar, or mixtures thereof. Additional lubricants include, for example, a syloid silica gel, a coagulated aerosol of synthetic silica, or mixtures thereof. A lubricant can optionally be added, in an amount of less than about 1 weight percent of the pharmaceutical composition.

When aqueous suspensions and/or elixirs are desired for oral administration, the active ingredient therein may be combined with various sweetening or flavoring agents, coloring matter or dyes and, if so desired, emulsifying and/or suspending agents, together with such diluents as water, ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerin and various combinations thereof.

The tablets can be uncoated or coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate or glyceryl distearate can be employed. Formulations for oral use can also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example, peanut oil, liquid paraffin or olive oil.

Surfactant which can be used to form pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms include, but are not limited to, hydrophilic surfactants, lipophilic surfactants, and mixtures thereof. That is, a mixture of hydrophilic surfactants may be employed, a mixture of lipophilic surfactants may be employed, or a mixture of at least one hydrophilic surfactant and at least one lipophilic surfactant may be employed.

Surfactants with lower HLB values are more lipophilic or hydrophobic, and have greater solubility in oils, while surfactants with higher HLB values are more hydrophilic, and have greater solubility in aqueous solutions. Hydrophilic surfactants are generally considered to be those compounds having an HLB value greater than about 10, as well as anionic, cationic, or zwitterionic compounds for which the HLB scale is not generally applicable. Similarly, lipophilic (i.e., hydrophobic) surfactants are compounds having an HLB value equal to or less than about 10. However, HLB value of a surfactant is merely a rough guide generally used to enable formulation of industrial, pharmaceutical and cosmetic emulsions.

Hydrophilic surfactants may be either ionic or non-ionic. Suitable ionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkylammonium salts; fusidic acid salts; fatty acid derivatives of amino acids, oligopeptides, and polypeptides; glyceride derivatives of amino acids, oligopeptides, and polypeptides; lecithins and hydrogenated lecithins; lysolecithins and hydrogenated lysolecithins; phospholipids and derivatives thereof; lysophospholipids and derivatives thereof; carnitine fatty acid ester salts; salts of alkylsulfates; fatty acid salts; sodium docusate; acyl lactylates; mono- and di-acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides; succinylated mono- and di-glycerides; citric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides; and mixtures thereof.

Within the aforementioned group, ionic surfactants include, by way of example: lecithins, lysolecithin, phospholipids, lysophospholipids and derivatives thereof; carnitine fatty acid ester salts; salts of alkylsulfates; fatty acid salts; sodium docusate; acylactylates; mono- and di-acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides; succinylated mono- and di-glycerides; citric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides; and mixtures thereof.

Ionic surfactants may be the ionized forms of lecithin, lysolecithin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidylserine, PEG-phosphatidylethanolamine, PVP-phosphatidylethanolamine, lactylic esters of fatty acids, stearoyl-2-lactylate, stearoyl lactylate, succinylated monoglycerides, mono/diacetylated tartaric acid esters of mono/diglycerides, citric acid esters of mono/diglycerides, cholylsarcosine, caproate, caprylate, caprate, laurate, myristate, palmitate, oleate, ricinoleate, linoleate, linolenate, stearate, lauryl sulfate, teracecyl sulfate, docusate, lauroyl carnitines, palmitoyl carnitines, myristoyl carnitines, and salts and mixtures thereof.

Hydrophilic non-ionic surfactants may include, but are not limited to, alkylglucosides; alkylmaltosides; alkylthioglucosides; lauryl macrogolglycerides; polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers such as polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers; polyoxyalkylene alkylphenols such as polyethylene glycol alkyl phenols; polyoxyalkylene alkyl phenol fatty acid esters such as polyethylene glycol fatty acids monoesters and polyethylene glycol fatty acids diesters; polyethylene glycol glycerol fatty acid esters; polyglycerol fatty acid esters; polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters such as polyethylene glycol sorbitan fatty acid esters; hydrophilic transesterification products of a polyol with at least one member of the group consisting of glycerides, vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, fatty acids, and sterols; polyoxyethylene sterols, derivatives, and analogues thereof; polyoxyethylated vitamins and derivatives thereof; polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers; and mixtures thereof; polyethylene glycol sorbitan fatty acid esters and hydrophilic transesterification products of a polyol with at least one member of the group consisting of triglycerides, vegetable oils, and hydrogenated vegetable oils. The polyol may be glycerol, ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, propylene glycol, pentaerythritol, or a saccharide.

Other hydrophilic-non-ionic surfactants include, without limitation, PEG-10 laurate, PEG-12 laurate, PEG-20 laurate, PEG-32 laurate, PEG-32 dilaurate, PEG-12 oleate, PEG-15 oleate, PEG-20 oleate, PEG-20 dioleate, PEG-32 oleate, PEG-200 oleate, PEG-400 oleate, PEG-15 stearate, PEG-32 distearate, PEG-40 stearate, PEG-100 stearate, PEG-20 dilaurate, PEG-25 glyceryl trioleate, PEG-32 dioleate, PEG-20 glyceryl laurate, PEG-30 glyceryl laurate, PEG-20 glyceryl stearate, PEG-20 glyceryl oleate, PEG-30 glyceryl oleate, PEG-30 glyceryl laurate, PEG-40 glyceryl laurate, PEG-40 palm kernel oil, PEG-50 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-40 castor oil, PEG-35 castor oil, PEG-60 castor oil, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-60 corn oil, PEG-6 caprate/caprylate glycerides, PEG-8 caprate/caprylate glycerides, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, PEG-30 cholesterol, PEG-25 phyto sterol, PEG-30 soya sterol, PEG-20 trioleate, PEG-40 sorbitan oleate, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 80, POE-9 lauryl ether, POE-23 lauryl ether, POE-10 oleyl ether, POE-20 oleyl ether, POE-20 stearyl ether, tocopheryl PEG-100 succinate, PEG-24 cholesterol, polyglyceryl-10oleate, Tween 40, Tween 60, sucrose monostearate, sucrose monolaurate, sucrose monopalmitate, PEG 10-100 nonyl phenol series, PEG 15-100 octyl phenol series, and poloxamers.

Suitable lipophilic surfactants include, by way of example only: fatty alcohols; glycerol fatty acid esters; acetylated glycerol fatty acid esters; lower alcohol fatty acids esters; propylene glycol fatty acid esters; sorbitan fatty acid esters; polyethylene glycol sorbitan fatty acid esters; sterols and sterol derivatives; polyoxyethylated sterols and sterol derivatives; polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers; sugar esters; sugar ethers; lactic acid derivatives of mono- and di-glycerides; hydrophobic transesterification products of a polyol with at least one member of the group consisting of glycerides, vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, fatty acids and sterols; oil-soluble vitamins/vitamin derivatives; and mixtures thereof. Within this group, preferred lipophilic surfactants include glycerol fatty acid esters, propylene glycol fatty acid esters, and mixtures thereof, or are hydrophobic transesterification products of a polyol with at least one member of the group consisting of vegetable oils, hydrogenated vegetable oils, and triglycerides.

In one embodiment, the composition includes a solubilizer to ensure good solubilization and/or dissolution of the compound and to minimize precipitation of the compound. This can be especially advantageous for compositions for non-oral use, e.g., compositions for injection. A solubilizer may also be added to increase the solubility of the hydrophilic drug and/or other components, such as surfactants, or to maintain the composition as a stable or homogeneous solution or dispersion.

Examples of suitable solubilizers include, but are not limited to, the following: alcohols and polyols, such as ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butanediols and isomers thereof, glycerol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, mannitol, transcutol, dimethyl isosorbide, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyvinylalcohol, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and other cellulose derivatives, cyclodextrins and cyclodextrin derivatives; ethers of polyethylene glycols having an average molecular weight of about 200 to about 6000, such as tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol PEG ether (glycofurol) or methoxy PEG; amides and other nitrogen-containing compounds such as 2-pyrrolidone, 2-piperidone, ε-caprolactam, N-alkylpyrrolidone, N-hydroxyalkylpyrrolidone, N-alkylpiperidone, N-alkylcaprolactam, dimethylacetamide and polyvinylpyrrolidone; esters such as ethyl propionate, tributylcitrate, acetyl triethylcitrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, triethylcitrate, ethyl oleate, ethyl caprylate, ethyl butyrate, triacetin, propylene glycol monoacetate, propylene glycol diacetate, ε-caprolactone and isomers thereof, δ-valerolactone and isomers thereof, β-butyrolactone and isomers thereof; and other solubilizers known in the art, such as dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl isosorbide, N-methyl pyrrolidones, monooctanoin, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, and water.

Mixtures of solubilizers may also be used. Examples include, but not limited to, triacetin, triethylcitrate, ethyl oleate, ethyl caprylate, dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cyclodextrins, ethanol, polyethylene glycol 200-100, glycofurol, transcutol, propylene glycol, and dimethyl isosorbide. Particularly preferred solubilizers include sorbitol, glycerol, triacetin, ethyl alcohol, PEG-400, glycofurol and propylene glycol.

The amount of solubilizer that can be included is not particularly limited. The amount of a given solubilizer may be limited to a bioacceptable amount, which may be readily determined by one of skill in the art. In some circumstances, it may be advantageous to include amounts of solubilizers far in excess of bioacceptable amounts, for example to maximize the concentration of the drug, with excess solubilizer removed prior to providing the composition to a subject using conventional techniques, such as distillation or evaporation. Thus, if present, the solubilizer can be in a weight ratio of 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, or up to about 200% by weight, based on the combined weight of the drug, and other excipients. If desired, very small amounts of solubilizer may also be used, such as 5%, 2%, 1% or even less. Typically, the solubilizer may be present in an amount of about 1% to about 100%, more typically about 5% to about 25% by weight.

The composition can further include one or more pharmaceutically acceptable additives and excipients. Such additives and excipients include, without limitation, detackifiers, anti-foaming agents, buffering agents, polymers, antioxidants, preservatives, chelating agents, viscomodulators, tonicifiers, flavorants, colorants, odorants, opacifiers, suspending agents, binders, fillers, plasticizers, lubricants, and mixtures thereof.

In addition, an acid or a base may be incorporated into the composition to facilitate processing, to enhance stability, or for other reasons. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable bases include amino acids, amino acid esters, ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydrogen carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium aluminum silicate, synthetic aluminum silicate, synthetic hydrocalcite, magnesium aluminum hydroxide, diisopropylethylamine, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, triethanolamine, triethylamine, triisopropanolamine, trimethylamine, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) and the like. Also suitable are bases that are salts of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid, such as acetic acid, acrylic acid, adipic acid, alginic acid, alkanesulfonic acid, amino acids, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, boric acid, butyric acid, carbonic acid, citric acid, fatty acids, formic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, hydroquinosulfonic acid, isoascorbic acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, oxalic acid, para-bromophenylsulfonic acid, propionic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, tannic acid, tartaric acid, thioglycolic acid, toluenesulfonic acid, uric acid, and the like. Salts of polyprotic acids, such as sodium phosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate can also be used. When the base is a salt, the cation can be any convenient and pharmaceutically acceptable cation, such as ammonium, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and the like. Example may include, but not limited to, sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, calcium and ammonium.

Suitable acids are pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic acids. Examples of suitable inorganic acids include hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydriodic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, boric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like. Examples of suitable organic acids include acetic acid, acrylic acid, adipic acid, alginic acid, alkanesulfonic acids, amino acids, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, boric acid, butyric acid, carbonic acid, citric acid, fatty acids, formic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, hydroquinosulfonic acid, isoascorbic acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, methanesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, para-bromophenylsulfonic acid, propionic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, tannic acid, tartaric acid, thioglycolic acid, toluenesulfonic acid, uric acid and the like.

In another aspect of the disclosure, provided are kits comprising the unit doses containing the antibody compositions of the disclosure and instructions for use. The kit can further comprise one or more unit doses containing one or more additional reagents, such as an immunosuppressive reagent, a cytotoxic agent or a radiotoxic agent as described above, or one or more additional antibodies as described herein (e.g., a human antibody having a complementary activity which binds to an epitope in the antigen distinct from a first human antibody). Kits typically include a label indicating the intended use of the contents of the kit. The term label includes any writing, or recorded material supplied on or with the kit, or which otherwise accompanies the kit.

A kit of the present disclosure may also include diagnostic agents and/or other therapeutic agents. In one embodiment, a kit includes an antibody of the present disclosure and a diagnostic agent that may be used in a diagnostic method for diagnosing the state or existence of a disease, condition or disorder in a subject as described herein.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are given for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the present disclosure in any fashion. The present examples, along with the methods described herein are presently representative of preferred embodiments, are exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims will occur to those skilled in the art.

Example 1: Binding Affinity Assay of Antibodies

All SPR measurements were performed on a BIAcore 3000 instrument (GE Biosciences, Piscataway, N.J.). BIAcore Software-BIAcore 3000 Control Software V3.2 was used for the operation and control of the BIAcore 3000 instrument. BiaEvaluation Software V4.1 was used for the analysis of SPR data from the BIAcore 3000 instrument and data was plotted using Graph Pad Prism Software Version 5. The binding affinity of antibodies to IL-6R was measured in HBS-EP buffer (10 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 3.4 mM EDTA, 0.005% P20) at 25° C. The flow rate for the affinity study was 30 μL/minute. The indicated antibodies were used as the ligand for the construction of the reference channel of the chip. Analyte (sIL-6R; SBH Sciences, Natick, Mass. 01760 USA) binding to the immobilized ligand was measured and the concentration of the sIL-6R is from 1.2 to 100 nM (3×dilution). Each sample was injected for 3 min at a flow rate of 30 μL/min to allow for binding to chip-bound antibody. Next, binding buffer without analyte was sent over the chip at the same flow rate to allow for dissociation of bound analyte. After 500 s, remaining bound analyte was removed by injecting regeneration solution (1M Formic acid). Data was analyzed by using the Kinetics Wizard and the manual fitting programs that are both included with the BiaEvaluation Software V4.1. The k_(a), k_(d), K_(D) and the affinity relative to Tocilizumab (sample #25) are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 1-1 Binding Affinity of Exemplary Antibodies Sample # k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) Relative Affinity 25(control) 1.88E+05 2.52E−04 1.34E−09 1 1 2.44E+05 1.01E−04 4.13E−10 3.2 2 1.97E+05 8.51E−05 4.32E−10 3.1 3 2.13E+05 5.80E−05 2.73E−10 4.9 5 2.66E+05 2.34E−04 8.82E−10 1.5 6 2.33E+05 6.22E−05 2.67E−10 5.0 7 2.32E+05 1.77E−04 7.63E−10 1.8 8 2.70E+05 2.41E−04 8.93E−10 1.5 9 2.39E+05 5.94E−05 2.49E−10 5.4 11 2.75E+05 2.38E−05 8.63E−11 15.5 12 2.89E+05 8.32E−05 2.88E−10 4.6 13 2.69E+05 1.00E−04 3.73E−10 3.6 14 3.14E+05 5.69E−05 1.81E−10 7.4 15 3.10E+05 4.49E−05 1.45E−10 9.2 16 2.96E+05 4.04E−05 1.36E−10 9.8 17 2.87E+05 8.71E−05 3.04E−10 4.4 18 3.35E+05 4.73E−05 1.41E−10 9.5 20 2.10E+05 1.58E−04 7.51E−10 1.8 24 2.54E+05 7.13E−05 2.81E−10 4.8 26 2.43E+05 1.02E−04 4.20E−10 3.2 27 3.39E+05 3.46E−05 1.02E−10 13.1 28 2.84E+05 7.61E−05 2.68E−10 5.0 29 4.17E+05 3.99E−05 9.57E−11 14.0 30 2.99E+05 7.03E−05 2.35E−10 5.7 31 2.92E+05 2.92E−05 1.00E−10 13.4

TABLE 2-2 Binding Affinity of Exemplary Antibodies Sample # k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) Relative Affinity 25(control) 2.07E+05 3.53E−04 1.71E−09 1 1 2.29E+05 6.76E−05 2.95E−10 5.8 2 2.00E+05 1.17E−04 5.85E−10 2.9 3 2.04E+05 8.87E−05 4.35E−10 3.9 6 2.19E+05 8.10E−05 3.70E−10 4.6 9 1.96E+05 6.28E−05 3.20E−10 5.3 11 2.76E+05 3.08E−05 1.12E−10 15.3 12 3.02E+05 1.26E−04 4.18E−10 4.1 14 3.74E+05 9.75E−05 2.61E−10 6.6 15 2.98E+05 5.97E−05 2.34E−10 8.6 16 3.36E+05 6.30E−05 1.87E−10 9.1 17 3.31E+05 1.17E−04 3.54E−10 4.8 18 3.25E+05 5.42E−05 1.67E−10 10.2 24 2.52E+05 7.99E−05 3.17E−10 5.4 27 3.39E+05 4.27E−05 1.26E−10 13.6 28 3.63E+05 1.48E−04 4.08E−10 4.2 29 4.40E+05 5.37E−05 1.22E−10 14.0 30 3.27E+05 8.33E−05 2.55E−10 6.7 31 3.85E+05 5.99E−05 1.56E−10 11.0 35 2.25E+05 1.46E−04 6.48E−10 2.6 45 1.75E+05 1.06E−04 6.05E−10 2.8

TABLE 2-3 Binding Affinity of Exemplary Antibodies Sample # k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) Relative Affinity 25(control) 1.22E+05 3.49E−04 2.85E−09 1 49 1.32E+05 2.18E−04 1.65E−09 1.7 50 1.44E+05 1.02E−04 7.07E−10 4.0 51 1.36E+05 5.72E−05 4.20E−10 6.8 56 2.30E+05 5.59E−05 2.43E−10 11.7 57 2.45E+05 2.41E−05 9.84E−11 29.0 58 2.58E+05 2.67E−05 1.03E−10 27.7 60 2.24E+05 4.59E−05 2.05E−10 13.9 61 2.38E+05 1.29E−05 5.44E−11 52.4 62 2.56E+05 6.61E−06 2.58E−11 110.5 64 2.14E+05 2.85E−05 1.33E−10 21.4 66 2.39E+05 3.38E−05 1.41E−10 20.2 68 2.91E+05 8.60E−06 2.96E−11 96.3 201 2.18E+05 1.47E−05 6.74E−11 42.3 202 8.53E+04 2.46E−06 2.88E−11 99.0 203 9.50E+04 3.17E−05 3.34E−10 8.5 204 2.29E+05 3.28E−06 1.43E−11 199.3 205 1.75E+05 2.14E−06 1.22E−11 233.6 206 1.89E+05 1.41E−07 7.50E−13 3800.0 208 2.21E+05 2.79E−05 1.26E−10 22.6

TABLE 2-4 Binding Affinity of Exemplary Antibodies Sample # k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) Relative Affinity 25(control) 1.08E+05 3.41E−04  3.16−09 1 52 1.07E+05 1.99E−04 1.86E−09 1.7 54 1.99E+05 1.39E−05 6.97E−11 45.3 55 1.87E+05 7.24E−05 3.87E−10 8.2 59 1.72E+05 4.86E−05 2.83E−10 11.2 69 1.45E+05 4.14E−05 2.86E−10 11.0 209 2.04E+05 1.37E−07 6.69E−13 4723.5 214 1.27E+05 4.69E−05 3.69E−10 8.7 215 1.57E+05 1.61E−04 1.03E−09 3.1 216 1.45E+05 2.66E−04 1.83E−09 1.7 217 1.88E+05 1.09E−04 5.81E−10 5.4 218 1.07E+05 6.63E−05 6.21E−10 5.1 219 1.21E+05 5.96E−05 4.91E−10 6.4 220 1.31E+05 6.34E−05 4.83E−10 6.5 221 1.36E+05 9.01E−05 6.63E−10 4.8 222 1.28E+05 3.66E−05 2.86E−10 11.0 223 1.33E+05 4.91E−05 3.68E−10 8.6 224 1.60E+05 7.99E−05 5.00E−10 6.3 225 1.63E+05 1.05E−04 6.45E−10 4.9 226 1.56E+05 1.60E−05 1.02E−10 31.0 227 1.44E+05 6.90E−05 4.77E−10 6.6 228 1.49E+05 3.04E−05 2.04E−10 15.5 229 1.24E+05 7.49E−05 6.05E−10 5.2 230 1.37E+05 6.15E−05 4.48E−10 7.1 231 1.32E+05 1.48E−07 1.12E−12 2821.4 232 1.51E+05 4.81E−05 3.19E−10 9.9 233 1.49E+05 5.75E−05 3.87E−10 8.2 234 1.54E+05 5.69E−05 3.70E−10 8.5 235 1.28E+05 3.81E−05 2.97E−10 10.6 236 1.85E+05 1.53E−05 8.29E−11 38.1 237 1.66E+05 1.01E−05 6.05E−11 52.2 238 1.35E+05 1.50E−05 1.11E−10 28.5 239 1.44E+05 2.36E−05 1.64E−10 19.3 240 1.54E+05 2.30E−05 1.50E−10 21.1 241 1.79E+05 3.61E−05 2.02E−10 15.6 242 7.02E+04 8.71E−05 1.24E−09 2.6 243 7.10E+04 1.94E−05 2.73E−10 11.6 244 1.40E+05 2.33E−05 1.66E−10 19.0 245 1.41E+05 3.53E−05 2.50E−10 12.6 246 1.25E+05 9.86E−06 7.89E−11 40.1

TABLE 2-5 Binding Affinity of Exemplary Antibodies Sample # k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) Relative Affinity 25(control) 1.25E+05 3.50E−04 2.80E−09 1 202 1.34E+05 3.17E−06 2.36E−11 118.6 206 2.30E+05 1.35E−07 5.87E−13 4770.0 247 1.67E+05 3.54E−05 2.12E−10 13.2 248 9.12E+04 1.73E−05 1.89E−10 14.8 249 1.41E+05 3.39E−05 2.41E−10 11.6 250 2.62E+05 9.27E−05 3.54E−10 7.9 251 1.73E+05 1.40E−04 8.05E−10 3.5 252 1.52E+05 2.44E−05 1.60E−10 17.5 253 1.76E+05 2.73E−05 1.55E−10 18.1

Example 2: Determination of pH Dependence of the Binding Affinity for IL-6R

SPR measurements at pH 7.4 and pH 6.0 were performed in parallel and K_(D) values calculated according to the protocol as detailed in Example 1. The pH dependence is calculated as the ratio between the K_(D) value at pH 6.0 and the K_(D) value at pH 7.4, which indicates the fold of affinity decrease from the pH7.4 to pH6.0. If the pH dependence of a subject antibody described herein is over 1, it means that the antibody binds to IL-6R in such a pH-dependent manner that its binding to IL-6R at pH7.4 is higher than at pH6.0. If the pH dependence of a subject antibody described herein is lower than 1, it means that the antibody binds to IL-6R in such a pH-dependent manner that its binding to IL-6R at pH6.0 is higher than at pH7.4. Two batches of SPR measurements were performed on antibodies #202, #205, and #206 and antibodies #209, #231, and #237, and antibody #25 was used as a reference antibody in both batches. The K_(D) values obtained is provided below in Tables 3-1 to 3-2, respectively. pH dependence thus determined by comparing the binding affinity at pH 7.4 and that at pH 6.0 is provided in Table 3-3. It can be seen from Table 3-3 below that the indicated antibodies have a much higher pH dependence than Tocilizumab, indicating a more significant decrease in binding affinity from pH7.4 to pH6.0, and thus superior properties in terms of antigen neutralization and clearance.

TABLE 3-1 Binding Affinity of Exemplary Antibodies pH 7.4 pH 6.0 Sample k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) 25 (control) 1.22E+05 3.49E−04 2.85E−09 2.83E+05 5.64E−04 2.00E−09 202 8.53E+04 2.46E−06 2.88E−11 2.84E+05 6.10E−06 2.14E−11 205 1.75E+05 2.14E−06 1.22E−11 3.84E+05 2.15E−05 5.60E−11 206 1.89E+05 1.41E−07 7.50E−13 4.12E+05 8.78E−06 2.13E−11

TABLE 3-2 Binding Affinity of Exemplary Antibodies pH 7.4 pH 6.0 Sample k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) k_(a) (1/Ms) k_(d) (1/s) K_(D) (M) 25 (control) 1.08E+05 3.41E−04 3.16−09 3.16E+05 5.66E−04 1.79E−09 209 2.04E+05 1.37E−07 6.69E−13 6.83E+05 2.99E−05 4.38E−11 231 1.32E+05 1.48E−07 1.12E−12 2.91E+05 3.10E−05 1.07E−10 237 1.66E+05 1.01E−05 6.05E−11 2.92E+05 4.62E−05 1.59E−10

TABLE 1 Summary of pH Dependence of Exemplary Antibodies pH dependence Sample # (Fold of affinity decrease) 25 (control)  0.48 * ** 202  0.74 * 205  4.59 206 28.4 209 65.47 231 95.54 237  2.63 * pH dependence of lower than 1 means the affinity at pH 6.0 is higher than the affinity at pH 7.4. ** Value averaged between the two batches.

Example 3: Evaluation of IL-6 Receptor Neutralizing Activity

After two washes with PBS, DS-1 cells (ATCC Accession No. CRL 11102) were suspended in RPMI1640 containing 10% FBS (feeding without IL6), cultured at 37° C. for 18 hours. The cell suspensions were dispensed 25,000 cells/90μl/well at 96-well plate (Corning), then added 8 μl/well (1.25 mg/mL) of the indicated antibody to arrive at a final concentration of 100 μg/mL. The suspension was then cultured at 37° C. for 6 hours. IL6 of 3 concentrations with the highest final concentration at 250 ng/mL (5×dilution) was added, and the suspension was then cultured at 37° C. for 72 hours. MTS (Promega) and PMS were mixed at the ratio of 20:1, added 20 μl/well, and then incubated at 37° C. for 4 hours. Absorbance at 490 nm was recorded using Multiskan Fc (Thermo). As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, some representative antibodies significantly inhibited the proliferation of DS-1 cells.

Example 4: Evaluation of Inhibition % and IC₅₀ for Representative Antibodies in DS-1 Cells

After two washes with PBS, DS-1 cells were suspended in RPMI1640 containing 10% FBS (feeding without IL6), cultured at 37° C. for 18 hours. The cell suspensions were dispensed 25,000 cells/90μl/well at 96-well plate (Corning), then added 8 μl/well anti-IL6R-mAb at 4-fold dilutions over 9 concentrations with highest concentration at 100 μg/mL, cultured at 37° C. for 6 hours. IL6 and controls were added 41/well with final concentration at 2 ng/mL, cultured at 37° C. for 72 hours. Mixed MTS (Promega) and PMS at the ratio of 20:1, added 20 μl/well, incubated at 37° C. for 4 hours. Record the absorbance at 490 nm using Multiskan Fc (Thermo). Inhibition % curves for some representative antibodies are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. IC50 values are calculated and provided below.

TABLE 1 Binding Affinity of Exemplary Antibodies Sample # IC₅₀ (μg/ml) 25# 0.32965 57# 0.06383 58# 0.06966 202# 0.06863 204# 0.03615 206# 0.0339

While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

SEQUENCES LISTING  Seq ID No: SEQUENCE   1   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG  2   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC  3   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARVL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG  4   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCGQ GNRLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC  5   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG  6   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKNTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPGN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG  7   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG  8   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG  9   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSAA STEGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 10   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAIDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 11   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAMDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 12   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGIITY NASLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 13   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 14   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 15   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 16   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 17   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 18   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 19   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 20   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 21   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKNTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 22   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKNTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 23   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 24   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 25   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 26   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 27   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 28   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 29   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARLTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 30   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 31   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARRTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 32   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 RISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 33   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 HISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARRL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 34   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 HISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 35   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARTL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 36   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARNL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 37   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 38   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NASLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 39   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 40   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 41   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 42   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 43   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 44   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 45   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 46   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 47   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 48   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 49   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 50   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 51   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 52   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 53   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAIDYFG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 54   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 55   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARITAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 56   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 57   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 58   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 FISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 59   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 60   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 61   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARTTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 62   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 63   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 64   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 65   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 66   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 67   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 68   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 69   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARMTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 70   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARTTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 71   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGITTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARTL 101 ARMTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 72   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARTL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 73   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARTL 101 ARTTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 74   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 75   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARTL 101 ARMTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 76   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARATAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 77   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMTTY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 78   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARSL 101 ARITAMDYWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 79   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASHDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 80   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYPNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 81   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYS  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 82   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLYSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 83   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLQSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 84   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHPGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 85   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCKQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 86   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GDTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 87   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYNFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 88   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLRSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCQQ GNTLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 89   1 QVQLQESGPG LVRPSQTLSL TCTVSGYSIT SDHAWSWVRQ PPGRGLEWIG  51 YISYSGMITY NPSLKSRVTM LRDTSKNQFS LRLSSVTAAD TAVYYCARCL 101 ARMTAIDFWG QGSLVTVSSA STKGPSVFPL APSSKSTSGG TAALGCLVKD 151 YFPEPVTVSW NSGALTSGVH TFPAVLQSSG LYSLSSVVTV PSSSLGTQTY 201 ICNVNHKPSN TKVDKKVEPK SCDKTHTCPP CPAPELLGGP SVFLFPPKPK 251 DTLMISRTPE VTCVVVDVSH EDPEVKFNWY VDGVEVHNAK TKPREEQYNS 301 TYRVVSVLTV LHQDWLNGKE YKCKVSNKAL PAPIEKTISK AKGQPREPQV 351 YTLPPSRDEL TKNQVSLTCL VKGFYPSDIA VEWESNGQPE NNYKTTPPVL 401 DSDGSFFLYS KLTVDKSRWQ QGNVFSCSVM HEALHNHYTQ KSLSLSPG 90   1 DIQMTQSPSS LSASVGDRVT ITCRASQDIS SYLNWYQQKP GKAPKLLIYY  51 TSRLHSGVPS RFSGSGSGTD FTFTISSLQP EDIATYYCGQ GNRLPYTFGQ 101 GTKVEIKRTV AAPSVFIFPP SDEQLKSGTA SVVCLLNNFY PREAKVQWKV 151 DNALQSGNSQ ESVTEQDSKD STYSLSSTLT LSKADYEKHK VYACEVTHQG 201 LSSPVTKSFN RGEC 91   1 LAPRRCPAQE VARGVLTSLP GDSVTLTCPG VEPEDNATVH WVLRKPAAGS  51 HPSRWAGMGR RLLLRSVQLH DSGNYSCYRA GRPAGTVHLL VDVPPEEPQL  101 SCFRKSPLSN VVCEWGPRST PSLTTKAVLL VRKFQNSPAE DFQEPCQYSQ  151 ESQKFSCQLA VPEGDSSFYI VSMCVASSVG SKFSKTQTFQ GCGILQPDPP  201 ANITVTAVAR NPRWLSVTWQ DPHSWNSSFY RLRFELRYRA ERSKTFTTWM  251 VKDLQHHCVI HDAWSGLRHV VQLRAQEEFG QGEWSEWSPE AMGTPWTESR  301 SPPAENEVST PMQALTTNKD DDNILFRDSA NATSLPVQDS SSVPLP  

1.-8. (canceled)
 9. A method of treating a subject suffering from a disease or condition comprising administering an anti-Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody to the subject, wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy chain comprises an amino acid sequence with 95% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO. 28, and wherein the amino acid sequence of the heavy chain comprises: F at position 51, M at position 57, and I at position 103; and wherein the light chain comprises an amino acid sequence with 95% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO. 4, and wherein the amino acid sequence of the light chain comprises G at position 89 and R at position
 93. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the disease or condition is associated with IL-6R.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Addison's disease, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), aplastic anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease, Diabetes mellitus (type 1), Goodpasture's syndrome, Graves' disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), Hashimoto's disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS), optic neuritis, Ord's thyroiditis, oemphigus, polyarthritis, primary biliary cirrhosis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), asthma, Reiter's syndrome, Takayasu's arteritis, temporal arteritis (also known as “giant cell arteritis”), warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Wegener's granulomatosis, alopecia universalis, Chagas' disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, dysautonomia, endometriosis, hidradenitis suppurativa, interstitial cystitis, neuromyotonia, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, ulcerative colitis, vitiligo, vulvodynia, infection, endotoxic shock associated with infection, arthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, Alzheimer's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, dermatomyositis, uveitis, Peyronie's Disease, gallbladder disease, Pilonidal disease, peritonitis, vasculitis, surgical adhesions, stroke, lyme arthritis, meningoencephalitis, autoimmune disorders, pancreatitis, trauma from surgery, graft-versus-host disease, transplant rejection, heart disease, bone resorption, burns, myocardial infarction, Paget's disease, osteoporosis, sepsis, liver/lung fibrosis, periodontitis, hypochlorhydia, solid tumors, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, prostatic cancer, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, neurological cancers, and B-cell malignancies.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the disease or condition comprises rheumatoid arthritis, temporal arteritis, Takayasu's arteritis, infection, or endotoxic shock associated with infection.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the heavy chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 97% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 28. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 97% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 4. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 99% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 4. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 4. 17. The method of claim 9, wherein the heavy chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 99% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 28. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 97% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 4. 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 99% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 4. 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 4. 21. The method of claim 9, wherein the heavy chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 28. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 96% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 4. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 97% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 4. 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 98% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 4. 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence with 99% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO.
 4. 26. The method of claim 21, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 4. 27. The method of claim 9, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
 28. The method of claim 9, wherein the light chain comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO.
 4. 